Davis, who joined ESPN STAR Sports in 2005, will continue to serve as a consultant to the company and will work closely with Sawhney to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
Announcing the appointment, Russell Wolff, Managing Director, ESPN International and Paul Aiello, Chief Executive Officer, STAR said on behalf of the ESPN STAR Sports Board of Directors, “Manu’s background and experience in sports broadcasting is unmatched. He has played an instrumental role in the growth of the company by leading the negotiations of a number of major sports acquisitions and key Indian affiliate renewals during his time in India, tremendously expanding the programming choices enjoyed by our fans. The Board is confident that under Manu’s leadership and with the company’s strong management team, ESPN STAR Sports will continue to grow.”
On his appointment, Sawhney said, "I have truly enjoyed the excitement and challenges in sports broadcasting throughout my career at ESPN STAR Sports. I am particularly proud to have been with the company since its inception, and feel fortunate to have played a part in its fantastic growth over the years. I very much look forward to working with the Board and the dedicated team we have in place as we strive to strengthen the company’s position as the leading sport broadcaster in Asia.”
Sawhney joined ESPN STAR Sports in 1996 as a Marketing Manager and was promoted to Managing Director of ESPN Software India in 1999 where he led the growth of the company from a start-up to the leading sports broadcaster in South Asia. Sawhney moved to the network’s headquarters in Singapore in 2003 as Senior Vice President of Programming and Event Management and was promoted to Executive Vice President of Programming and Marketing in 2005 where he expanded his responsibilities to include Network Presentation and Marketing & Communications. Manu holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and has done his Masters in International Business
