Sports Marketing Ace Joins Zee

Vipul Bandekar has been appointed director of marketing for Z Sports, a significant move for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. Bandekar brings over a decade of extensive sports marketing experience from his previous roles at Star Sports, Disney Star, and JioStar. His expertise includes leading marketing strategies for premier sporting events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), and the Indian Super League (ISL).

During his tenure at JioStar, Bandekar was instrumental in developing innovative audience strategies for the IPL, contributing to substantial user growth and peak concurrency figures. He also spearheaded successful marketing campaigns for the Pro Kabaddi League, increasing its viewership and reach by repositioning it around regional fan families. His experience extends to developing fan-facing platforms and activations, alongside pioneering interactive marketing formats like augmented reality filters.

Bandekar's career began with Star Sports, where he played a key role in launching leagues like Pro Kabaddi and ISL, building their marketing platforms beyond cricket. He further contributed to IPL campaigns, witnessing significant growth in reach and viewer retention. His prior experience includes managing marketing portfolios for major FMCG brands before his deep dive into the sports sector, positioning him to build Z Sports' distinct brand identity and foster stronger connections with fans and commercial partners.