Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Indian Super League Names Karan Yadav As New CEO
The Indian Super League has chosen Karan Yadav to be its new CEO.
The ISL is India’s top-level professional football league.
Yadav has worked in football, sports media, sponsorships and sports business for nearly two decades.
He helped start a football website and later held senior roles at Wavemaker, ACKO and JSW Sports.
He will be the first CEO of the ISL under its new club-led structure.
This means the league office will work closely with the clubs that participate in the competition.
Yadav wants to improve the league’s business, broadcasts, relationships with fans and support for clubs.
The goal is to help the ISL and Indian football grow in a more connected and sustainable way.
The Indian Super League appointed Karan Yadav as its chief executive officer on September 21, 2026.
Yadav becomes the first CEO under the league’s new club-led League Office structure.
He brings nearly two decades of experience in sports, media, marketing, commercial strategy and operations.
As CEO, Yadav will oversee the ISL’s strategic, commercial and organizational direction in coordination with clubs and the All-India Football Federation.
His priorities include strengthening broadcast and commercial partnerships, fan engagement, club relationships and the league’s long-term sustainability.
- Who
- Karan Yadav, the newly appointed CEO of the Indian Super League, will work with the league’s clubs and the All-India Football Federation.
- What
- The Indian Super League appointed Yadav as its CEO and first chief executive under its new club-led League Office structure.
- When
- September 21, 2026.
- Where
- Mumbai, India, where the announcement was issued.
- Why
- To lead the ISL’s strategic, commercial and organizational direction and support the league’s long-term growth and sustainability.
- Appointment
- Karan Yadav was named Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Super League.
- Leadership structure
- He is the first CEO under the ISL’s new club-led League Office model.
- Experience
- Yadav has nearly two decades of experience across sports, media, marketing, commercial strategy and operations.
- Previous role
- He most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports.
- Career beginning
- Yadav co-founded TheHardTackle.com in 2010 and served as its Editor-in-Chief.
- League clubs
- The ISL features 13 clubs.
- Responsibilities
- His mandate includes commercial strategy, broadcast relationships, fan engagement, stakeholder coordination and building the League Office.