Devang is Head of the Mumbai Indians, MI Global and Head of Reliance Sports. His dual roles span the growth of a number of India’s leading sports and entertainment properties, and as such Devang has been at the forefront of the huge growth in the Indian sports market over recent years.
As Head of Mumbai Indians, Devang drives all commercial and operational aspects of the IPL’s most successful team. MI have won five of the last nine IPL titles, are widely recognised as the benchmark IPL team, and consistently generate the most income and consistently amongst the most viewed and followed teams in the IPL T20 franchise ecosystem.
In the last year, Devang has been responsible for creating a Multi Cricket Club Ownership structure which lead to the acquisition of 4 new franchise cricket teams, which includes Mumbai Indians Womens team, MI CapeTown (SA20), MI Emirates (ILT20), MI New York (Major League Cricket). The Mumbai Indians women team and MI New York team both won the inaugural season in the respective season. This makes MI the most successful club across the franchise system, and are now have 5 teams in 4 countries across 3 continents.
In leading Reliance Sports, the sports marketing arm of India’s largest private company, Reliance Industries, Devang oversees both RISE Worldwide, India’s foremost sports marketing agency, and Reliance Foundation Sports, which uses the power of sport to help millions of disadvantaged children across India and is now ushering in a new era of sporting competition and excellence across India’s schools and colleges.
RISE Worldwide launched out of IMG Reliance, the prior joint venture with IMG. Since going solo Devang has overseen RISE’s unprecedented growth: revenues have more than tripled with the agency now employing over 120 people in offices across Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. RISE has created, owns and manages leading properties such as the Hero Indian Super League, Lakme Fashion Week, the Tata Open and Jio Wonderland.RISE Worldwide over the last 24 months has become India’s largest sports marketing agency in terms of Revenue. RISE has worked with various rights holders both in India globally with deals spanning across Sponsorship Sales, Media Rights, Production etc.
At the heart of Devang’s roles and responsibilities sits a deep passion for and belief in the future of Indian sport. His leadership is focussed on growing the existing portfolio of assets and continuing to introduce new sports and entertainment properties that have long-term potential. The list of rightsholders, domestic and international brands partnering with Mumbai Indians, Reliance Sports and RISE Worldwide bear witness to the success of his efforts thus far.