In a landmark leadership move, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed media and sports strategist Sanjog Gupta as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Geoff Allardice, who stepped down following a decade-long stint at the cricketing body.
Gupta takes charge at a pivotal moment as the ICC accelerates its global expansion strategy, sharpens its commercial focus, and works to position cricket as a permanent fixture in the Olympic Games. With a strong track record in digital transformation and sports broadcasting, Gupta’s arrival signals a clear shift toward aggressive market development and media innovation.
The appointment follows an extensive international search that attracted over 2,500 applicants from 25 countries. After a rigorous evaluation process conducted by the ICC’s HR & Remuneration Committee, a shortlist of 12 was reviewed by a Nominations Committee that included ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, ECB Chair Richard Thompson, SLC President Shammi Silva, and BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia. Gupta was unanimously recommended and subsequently ratified by the ICC Board.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah expressed confidence in the appointment, stating, “Sanjog brings with him a wealth of experience in sports strategy and commercialisation. His leadership will be critical as we aim to deepen cricket’s roots in its core markets and accelerate its growth in new territories. Our ambition is to elevate cricket as a truly global sport, and his vision aligns with that.”
Gupta most recently served as CEO – Sports at JioStar, the Reliance-Disney joint venture, where he played a central role in driving monetisation, sports IP development, and the integration of digital content across platforms. Before that, he held several leadership roles at Star Sports, where he was instrumental in redefining how Indian audiences experienced live sports—particularly during the explosive growth phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He joined Disney Star in 2009 as a content producer and rose through the ranks to become Head of Sports, overseeing programming, strategy, and viewer engagement for a growing portfolio of sporting events. In 2020, he was appointed Head of Sports for Star TV Network before moving to JioStar.
Commenting on his appointment, Gupta said, “It’s a true honour to lead the ICC at such an exciting time. Cricket has incredible potential to connect people across geographies and cultures, and I look forward to working with the global cricketing community to unlock new opportunities for the sport.”
Outgoing CEO Geoff Allardice, who led the ICC since 2021 and had been associated with the body since 2012, said, “It has been an immense privilege to serve the ICC. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved—especially in growing the game’s footprint—and believe this is the right time for me to step aside and explore new challenges.”
Gupta’s appointment comes amid heightened interest in cricket from emerging markets and continued efforts by the ICC to bolster its digital offerings, expand the sport’s commercial footprint, and enhance its competitive ecosystem across formats and regions.
As the sport’s new chief executive, Sanjog Gupta is poised to take the ICC into its next era—one driven by innovation, inclusion, and global impact.
