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MUMBAI: ESPN Software India, today announced the appointment
of Vijay Rajput as COO, Sricharan Iyengar as vice president
and business head of the consumer business group and emerging
technologies and Rajesh Kaul as vice president, affiliate
sales.
Commenting on the the executive changes, ESPN managing director
RC Venkateish said, "These senior management appointments
will help us focus our efforts on key growth areas, both for
the present and the future and positions us to effectively
evolve our organization to maximize new opportunities."
Vijay Rajput joined ESS as director finance in 1997. In his
new role Rajput will be responsible for handling the finance,
administration, HR and legal divisions at ESPN in addition
to playing a pivotal role in the strategic management of the
company. Rajput has considerable management expertise as he
has an industry experience of nearly two decades.
Iyengar, associated with ESS since 2000, was earlier overseeing
the marketing & distribution functions of ESPN & STAR
Sports across South Asia. While continuing to handle consumer
marketing and direct to consumer services of DTH/Broadband
and IPTV, Iyengar will lead the company's thrust into the
emerging technologies of mobile, wireless and internet.
"We realise there is a big business opportunity on the
emerging technologies. As a leading sports broadcaster, we will
have to be omnipresent on all the delivery platforms. We will
also have to plan for content on new media. This will require
proper focus," Iyengar says.
Rajesh Kaul, who was earlier reporting to Iyengar, is given
independent charge of affiliate sales. Matters relating to
multi-system operators (MSOs) and cable TV operators will,
thus, be handled by him.
ESS recently tied up with mobile phone operator Airtel to
offer voice-based update system during the Fifa World Cup.
"Wireless can become a big platform. We tied up with
Airtel during the football World Cup. We will see how this
service evolves. CDMA mobile operators like Reliance Infocomm
can offer video clips. We will have to create products for
these new media vehicles," Iyengar says.
Value-added services on mobile phones is still evolving.
"Sports and news will drive the mobile business. When
we sort out the bandwidth issue, video-based applications
will become popular," he adds.
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