NEW YORK AND MUMBAI, Sept. 11, 2019 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today named Rajesh Sethi, an accomplished media and technology executive with more than 20 years of experience in leading and managing global brands, as Managing Director of NBA India. Sethi, who begins with the NBA on Sept. 12, will report to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.
As Managing Director of NBA India, Sethi will oversee the league’s basketball and business development initiatives in India and will be supported by the region’s senior leadership team.
Most recently, Sethi was with the Essel Group, a leading business conglomerate in India, where he held various leadership roles with the group’s entities, including SITI Networks, Zee Entertainment and Ten Sports. Since 2017, he has been the Chief Business Transformation Officer of SITI Networks, one of India’s leading cable television systems operators, and he spearheaded the creation of multiple new offerings for SITI Networks’ consumers.
Prior to SITI Networks, Sethi was the CEO of Distribution and Sports Business at Zee Entertainment, a major Indian media company. Additionally, he was the CEO of Ten Sports, a subsidiary of Zee Entertainment, where he oversaw the global sports broadcasters’ sports channels.
Earlier in his career, Sethi was the CEO and Region Director for South East Asia of Allianz Global, a specialty insurance provider, and held executive roles with General Electric in India and Tata Motors.
“Rajesh’s extensive experience in the media and broadcast industry combined with his leadership and management abilities make him the ideal person to lead our efforts in India,” said Tatum. “We look forward to working with Rajesh to help take basketball and the NBA to new heights in India at a time when the game has never been more popular across the country.”
“I am thrilled to join the NBA at such an exciting time,” said Sethi. “The league has done a wonderful job of growing its presence in India, and I look forward to working with all our partners and colleagues here as we explore new ways to increase basketball participation and engagement.”