MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company has created a new leadership structure at Star Sports in the aftermath of the departure of key executives from the network late last year.
To recap, October had witnessed the exits of Star Sports CEO Gautam Thakar, Rajiv Mathrani, EVP & head Marketing, Ashok Namboodiri, EVP and Business head – Regional Sports Networks, and Rupali Fernandes, EVP – Emerging Sports, Advertising Sales, Product and Revenue Strategy. It is also worth noting here that March 2020 had seen the departure of Star India EVP Brand Experience & Events Lydia Buthello (currently head of Events at Jio World).
Coming back to the leadership team in place now at the network, it is as under:
Sanjog Gupta, head – Sports at Star India. Before his elevation, Gupta, who has been associated with Star since June 2009, was leading sports content (production and programming) across TV & Digital at the network.
Nimish Joshi, head – Sports Strategy, Acquisitions & Business Development, Programming and Regional Strategy, New Channel Launches and Sports Ecosytem Interface. Joshi, an investment strategy wonk, joined the network in June 2019 from Ola, where he was head – Strategy, Corporate Development & Business Development. His present remit includes acquisition of sports content and ongoing relationship management with licensors; syndication of sports rights to global broadcasters (TV & digital); distribution strategy for sports channels (pricing, packaging, content line-up); content strategy & programming; growth strategy for emerging sports; and new business development.
Sudhir Shukla, head – Marketing. Shukla joined Star India in 2016 as vice president and head – marketing and brand strategy at Star Sports and was elevated to senior vice president – cricket in January 2018.
Prashant Khanna, head – Field Operations (Production), Studio Management and Technology Development (for both Star Sports & Hotstar). Khanna came on board in July 2017 as head – Technology & Operations – Star Sports & Mentor, Star Research and Development – LAB (Star’s R&D unit).
Khanna is currently shaping the division that services the production requirements of Star Sports & Hotstar; managing field operations, studio management & technology development teams that drives adoption of improved production tech & workflows; along with the development of Star LAB.
Siddharth Sharma, head – Editorial Direction and Content Development
There is also Anil Jayaraj, Star India EVP Ad Sales, who continues to head the advertising sales function for the sports business. Jayaraj joined the network in March 2015 from Pidilite Industries, where he was chief marketing officer.
It also bears noting that in the new dispensation, the sports business now has responsibilities towards TV and digital to “deliver and market content that drives advertising and subscription revenues”.
The new structure in place is in conformity with how it works in other parts of the Disney ecosystem.
Related Reports
Top deck churn at Star Sports points to post-IPL challenges
Disney restructures M&E units with focus on streaming biz
Disney India names Sudhir Shukla as mktng head – Sports
