Mangesh Ghogre

Mangesh Ghogre is a crossword constructor who has had crosswords published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Games and World of Puzzles. With a career spanning over 25 years, Mangesh is currently the editor and constructor for the Mini Crossword in The Forbes India magazine – first mini crossword by a marquee business magazine in India. Previously, he edited and constructed the Mini crossword for The Economic Times – first mini crossword by an eminent business newspaper in India.

Ghogre was recognized as the first India-based crossword constructor for the Los Angeles Times in 2010 and The New York Times in 2013. In 2012, he became the first Indian to judge American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, world's oldest and largest crossword tournament, held in New York.

In 2014, his crossword work was showcased at a solo exhibition at an art gallery at the well-known Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai for 9 days.

Some of his marquee crosswords include Fourth of July-themed crossword in NYT in 2017 to celebrate American independence day, Mahatma Gandhi-themed crossword in NYT in 2019 to celebrate Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary and Taj Mahal-themed crossword in 2023 to celebrate Indian independence day.

In 2019, he was awarded the Rotary Excellence Award for distinct achievements in his professional and vocational life. In 2022, he moved from Mumbai to the US after he was granted the prestigious Einstein Visa for his extraordinary skills in making crosswords. In 2023, his 26-year crossword career was a 5,000 word cover-story in The New Yorker magazine.

Professionally, Mangesh is an investment banker with 2 decades of rich experience in raising global equity of over USD 50 Billion. In 2019, he was featured in the Fortune 40 under 40 list of best professionals and entrepreneurs in India. He has been interviewed on Bloomberg Asia, CNBC, Fortune, Economic Times for his expertise on investment banking and capital markets.

Mangesh is also a prolific writer with editorial columns published in The Times of India, The Economic Times, The Hindu Business Line and Deccan Herald. His columns have been featured in The Speaking Tree column in The Times of India.

Mangesh has completed his Bachelors of Engineering from VJTI (University of Mumbai) and MBA from NMIMS (University of Mumbai).