DAZN APPOINTS FORMER HEAD OF TWITTER JAPAC YU SASAMOTO AS CEO OF DAZN JAPAN AND ASIA

• Yu Sasamoto joins as the new CEO of DAZN Japan, after leading Twitter in Japan and Asia Pacific.
• A distinguished industry leader, Mr Sasamoto brings extensive experience from top positions at Microsoft and MTV and board roles at leading Japanese entertainment companies Sanrio, Yoshimoto Kogyo, and Kadokawa.
• Mr Sasamoto’s strategic vision and strong relationships across sports, business, TV/broadcasting, and politics make him a dynamic force to drive DAZN’s next phase of growth in Japan and Asia and cement its leading position in sports streaming.
• Appointment comes at period of rapid expansion for DAZN with launch of free tier and global partnerships with international leagues.

London / Tokyo, 15 February 2023 – DAZN Group, the world’s leading sports streaming service, today announces the appointment of Mr Yu Sasamoto as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DAZN Japan and its Asia business.

Japan was DAZN’s first international market and today is the leading sports broadcaster, with a 10-year partnership with top flight professional football league J.League, as well as holding a strong portfolio of live sports rights across baseball, Formula 1 and European football. With the recent launch of a free tier at DAZN, Mr Sasamoto will both cement DAZN’s position in Japan and lead its corporate development in the wider Asia Pacific region. He will also take on responsibility for DAZN Taiwan.

Mr Sasamoto, a highly respected industry executive, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership in the technology, media, and entertainment sectors.

Most notably, Mr Sasamoto ran Twitter in Japan and Asia Pacific (APAC), where he oversaw a period of double-digit revenue growth, reporting into Elon Musk. With an illustrious career spanning over 27 years in leadership positions at global giants such as Microsoft and MTV, Mr Sasamoto has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive growth and innovation in the Japanese market and wider region.

His influence extends beyond his daily executive responsibilities. He currently serves on the boards of Japan’s leading entertainment companies – Sanrio, the home to international franchise Hello Kitty, Yoshimoto Kogyo, the largest talent and entertainment agency in Japan, and multimedia conglomerate Kadokawa. His strong relationships at the top level with agencies, sports organizations, businesses, TV and broadcasting entities, and politicians make him a global leader capable of navigating the complexities of the international sports and entertainment landscape.

Mr Sasamoto’s appointment follows that of Dr Kenji Kitatani in October 2023 as Chairman of DAZN Japan. These two new senior appointments demonstrate DAZN’s commitment, ambition and confidence in the Japanese market and the broader region.

Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said: “We are thrilled to have secured such a high calibre CEO in Yu Sasamoto to run DAZN Japan as we cement our position as the home of sport in Japan and globally. His extensive experience, strategic vision, and deep industry connections will undoubtedly accelerate our growth in the Japanese market and the wider region as we embark on another 10-year partnership with J.League. We believe his leadership will strengthen DAZN’s position as a premier sports streaming service.”

Yu Sasamoto said: “I see DAZN as a very exciting business, and after meeting with Shay Segev and others of the global leadership team, I am eager to contribute to the company’s continued success. The prospect of leading DAZN Japan is a compelling opportunity, and I look forward to driving innovation and growth in the sports streaming industry.”

DAZN Taiwan, which was part of the ELEVEN Group that was acquired by the business in 2023 and has over three million subscribers in the region, will also report into him.

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