The Indian Super League (ISL) has appointed sports-business executive Karan Yadav as CEO to lead its commercial, strategic, and organisational growth under the new club-led model.

The Indian Super League (ISL) has appointed Karan Yadav as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant leadership change as the competition enters a new club-led era. Yadav will oversee the league’s strategic, commercial and organisational operations while working closely with its participating clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Yadav brings nearly two decades of experience spanning football, sports media, marketing, commercial strategy and sports operations. His association with football began in 2010 when he co-founded TheHardTackle.com, a digital football publication. He served as its Editor-in-Chief and built a global editorial network comprising more than 50 writers and 10 editors.

His professional career later expanded into the business side of sport. Yadav has held senior positions across sports marketing, sponsorships, sales, rights management, athlete representation and operations. He previously led the sports and content practice at Wavemaker, part of WPP, before heading sports sponsorships and activations at ACKO.

Karan Yadav brings extensive sports-business experience

Before joining the ISL, Yadav served as Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports. During his tenure, he was responsible for a business with a ₹300-crore-plus P&L covering sports franchises, talent management and brand consulting.

Yadav was also involved in several high-profile sporting and commercial projects. At JSW Sports, he worked on the commercial strategy surrounding Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and played a role in Team India’s kitting partnership for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was also involved in the launch of the Neeraj Chopra Classic in 2025, described as India’s first global athletics intellectual property.

New CEO to lead ISL’s club-led growth strategy

In his new role, Yadav will lead the ISL League Office and work with clubs, broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders to develop the competition’s long-term strategy. His responsibilities will include strengthening the league’s commercial and broadcast proposition, improving fan engagement and creating a sustainable operating framework for the clubs.

The appointment comes as the ISL functions under a club-led commercial structure, giving participating clubs greater involvement in commercial rights, administration and key operational matters. The new model is expected to increase coordination between the league office and clubs in areas including partnerships, broadcasting, commercial strategy and fan engagement.

Speaking about his appointment, Yadav said, “The ISL is entering an important new chapter, and I am excited by the opportunity to help shape what comes next. The club-led model gives us a strong foundation to work with the clubs and the Managing Committee of ISL, with a shared ambition for the League and for Indian football. Our focus will be on building a strong and effective League Office, strengthening the League’s commercial and broadcast proposition, deepening its connection with fans and creating an environment where clubs can grow sustainably. Ultimately, we want to build a League that is stronger, more connected and capable of taking Indian football forward.”

Yadav’s appointment also represents a return to his football roots, having started his career as a football writer before moving into senior commercial and operational roles across Indian sport. He becomes the first CEO of the ISL under the new club-led League Office structure.

About the Indian Super League

The ISL currently features 13 clubs: Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi.

From this year onwards, the competition operates under a club-led commercial model, with participating clubs holding commercial rights along with administrative control and oversight of key operational aspects of the league.