ACG Sports (Indian Basketball League)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Mumbai, India

Reports to Consultant Director (Interim)

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About ACG Sports / Indian Basketball League

ACG Sport is the dedicated sports and entertainment arm of ACG, one of India’s most prominent and diversified business groups. Building on decades of global leadership in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and industrial solutions, ACG Sport reflects the Group’s belief in sport as a powerful platform to inspire, unite, and drive growth. With a commitment to professionalism, innovation, and governance, ACG Sport is developing properties that aspire to stand alongside the world’s leading sports organisations.

At the centre of ACG Sport's vision is the Indian Basketball League (IBL) - India’s first professional basketball league.  Launching in 2026, The IBL aims to establish basketball as a leading sport in India, create pathways for domestic and international success, and position the country as a global destination for the game. Through elite competition, grassroots development, and vibrant fan engagement, the IBL will build a sustainable ecosystem for basketball, supported by men’s and women’s leagues, international partnerships, and a strong focus on athlete empowerment.

Job Objective

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be responsible for building, scaling, and managing all operational, commercial, basketball, and high-performance aspects of the Indian Basketball League. This includes oversight of the Residential High Performance Centre (HPC).

As a senior executive managing the League’s day-to-day operations, the COO will play a central role in establishing basketball as a premier professional sport in India. The role encompasses league development, fan engagement, commercialization, and stakeholder management, ensuring elite competitions, commercial partnerships, fan experiences, and player development pathways.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

• Define and implement the strategic vision and long-term roadmap to position the IBL as a leading professional sporting property.
• Translate the direction of the Board, Consultant Director, and ownership group into actionable operational strategies.
• Align league growth with the mission of developing basketball talent, expanding its fan base, and building cultural relevance.
• Drive a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration across the organisation.

2. League Development

• Implement and oversee the league structure, including player draft/auction systems, salary caps, team formations, and competition formats tailored for basketball.
• Ensure smooth scheduling, officiating, compliance, and game-day operations.
• Develop pathways for athlete scouting, training, and grassroots basketball development programs.
• Build a strong framework for player pathways, team participation, and competitive integrity.

3. Commercialisation & Fundraising

• Oversee all revenue-generating functions, including media rights, sponsorship, ticketing, licensing, and merchandising.
• Create sustainable business models for franchises and teams.
• Lead sponsorship acquisition, media rights negotiations, partnerships, and merchandising to maximise revenue.
• Drive funding initiatives and investor relations to ensure financial stability and scalability.
• Ensure commercial partnerships are delivered to best-practice standards.

4. Basketball Operations & High Performance

• Provide leadership and oversight of basketball-related functions, including recruitment, contracting, competition rules and integrity, logistics, and high performance.
• Oversee the Residential High Performance Centre (HPC), ensuring it integrates elite-level coaching, sports science, player welfare, and recruitment into the League’s broader strategy.
• Collaborate with the Technical Director of the HPC as a key stakeholder to align the HPC’s objectives with the IBL’s competition and player development strategy.

5. Fan Engagement, Marketing & Brand Development

• Develop innovative marketing strategies to grow basketball’s fan base, particularly among youth and urban audiences.
• Build and grow a distinctive brand identity for the IBL, reflecting basketball’s high-energy, fast-paced, and youth-driven culture.
• Position basketball as a lifestyle brand through integrated campaigns, merchandising, and media presence.
• Enhance in-arena and digital fan experiences, leveraging technology and social media to deepen engagement.
• Oversee media, broadcast, and digital content production, ensuring world-class delivery and innovation.

6. Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure operational compliance with laws, regulations, league policies, and contractual commitments.
• Develop governance structures to support transparency, integrity, and accountability.
• Identify and manage risks across all areas of the business.
• Oversee effective financial management and reporting.

7. Stakeholder & Government Relations

• Build strong working relationships with investors, franchise owners, commercial partners, broadcasters, government stakeholders, federations, and community leaders.
• Represent the League in external forums and key negotiations, positioning it as a credible, professional, and innovative organisation.
• Serve as the key executive contact point for major external partnerships (as requested by the Consultant Director).

8. Team Leadership & Organisational Development

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing leadership team across marketing, operations, finance, legal, media, and basketball operations.
• Build a performance-driven, collaborative, and innovative culture within the organisation.
• Prepare the organisation for expansion and global positioning of the IBL product.

Key Relationships

Internal: Consultant Director, ACG Managing Director, senior management team, Technical Director of the HPC, staff.
 External: Commercial sponsors and partners, investors, broadcasters, government officials, regulators, venue operators, basketball federations, media.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Successful delivery of the inaugural IBL season, meeting commercial, operational, and player development targets.
• Effective integration and oversight of the HPC into the League’s operations.
• Establishment of a high-performing management team.
• Growth in brand recognition, fan engagement, and media footprint.
• Achievement of revenue and partnership targets.

Qualifications & Experience

• 12+ years of leadership experience in sports management, league/franchise operations, entertainment, or consumer-driven industries.
• Strong track record in commercialization, sponsorship acquisition, and media rights management.
• Demonstrated experience in large-scale event operations and fan engagement strategies.
• Proven ability to launch, scale, or transform an organisation.
• Experience overseeing elite training or high-performance centres desirable.
• Familiarity with basketball ecosystems (domestic and international leagues, federations, grassroots programs) strongly preferred.
• Strong track record of stakeholder management, including government, media, and investors.
• International experience desirable but not essential; understanding of the Indian sports/entertainment landscape advantageous.

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in a start-up environment.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
• Charismatic leader with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Highly resilient, adaptable, and solutions-oriented.
• Passionate about the growth of basketball in India and committed to building a world-class sports and entertainment product.