Sports marketing major IMG today announced the appointment of Ravi Krishnan as the new managing director of IMG/TWI South Asia.

Krishnan, an Australian of Indian origin, will be in charge of the complete gamut of activities under the IMG/TWI banner in the region including organizing and implementing domestic and international sports, fashion and lifestyle events, client management and servicing, corporate representation, consultancy and the full range of television production, programming and distribution activities for TWI, IMG's television arm.

"I am pleased that Ravi Krishnan has risen from within IMG to take over as the Managing Director," said Mark H McCormack, who founded IMG in the early sixties. "Ravi has extensive first-hand experience in India and South Asia for several years now. I am confident that he will excel in his new role, and continue to forge new frontiers in India and South Asia," he added.

"The South Asia region is poised for tremendous growth in the coming years as companies become aware of the benefits of sports and entertainment as a marketing tool. Over the last couple of years we have seen tremendous interest by large corporates in sports like golf, tennis, billiards and bowling, besides cricket," said Krishnan, who gave up a career as a corporate and entertainment lawyer in Australia to join up with IMG India six years ago.

"Our focus over the next couple of years would be to strengthen our core businesses, ensuring that we always use our leadership position globally to enhance the industry as a whole. We are in the process of exploring new projects and identifying opportunities in South Asia that will enable us to leverage our global expertise to conceptualise and implement truly world-class events in India," Krishnan said.

Last year, IMG concluded the largest-ever cricket team sponsorship deal when they acquired the rights to the Indian cricket team from the BCCI, and brought in Sahara India Parivar as the official team sponsor. IMG also brought in the Tata Group as the new title sponsor of the Tata Open Tennis Championship, ensuring that the largest and richest annual sporting event continues in India. The Indian Open Golf Championship, the jewel in the crown of IMG's golf activities, now has Royal Challenge as the new title sponsor. IMG also successfully completed, for the FDCI, the second Lakme India Fashion Week, the biggest and most high profile event in Indian fashion history.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Krishnan was a solicitor for Clayton UTZ, Australia's largest commercial law firm. He has also worked as an independent consultant to record companies and bands in Australia. Krishnan joined IMG in 1995 and was part of a four-member team that set-up IMG India.

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