Singapore – FOX Networks Group Asia announced today the appointment of Italo Zanzi as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for its Sports network. The veteran sports executive leads the management of the FOX Sports business and team across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Zanzi joins FOX from Italian Serie A football club A.S. Roma where he was CEO for three and a half years, overseeing all aspects of the club’s operations and business. His tenure at Roma was marked by financial improvements and competitive success for the club, including two-second place finishes in Serie A and qualification to the knock-out stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2015-16.
“I am very excited to take on this truly special role and challenge. With the power of FOX Sports – and its commitment to innovation across all media – the potential for growth is tremendous. Most importantly, I am confident FOX Sports will be a valued home for fans across this dynamic region by delivering a unique and compelling experience”
Zanzi reports to Simeon Dawes, EVP and MD, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia & the Middle East, FOX Networks Group, and is responsible for all aspects of the FOX Sports Network, including Production, Acquisitions and Marketing across the region, stretching from Japan to Dubai. He is based in Singapore.
Dawes added, “Italo is the kind of dynamic individual that we need to lead the FOX Sports business. With the knowledge and experience that he brings to the company, I am confident that he, together with the core team at FOX Sports, will be able to drive growth and innovation.”
Zanzi earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago in 1996, and Juris Doctor and MBA from Emory University in 1999. He is a licensed attorney in New York State. He started his career at Major League Baseball, where he spent nearly eight years, eventually serving as Vice President, International Broadcast Sales & Latin American / US Hispanic Marketing. He then served as Deputy General Secretary of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) overseeing the confederation’s events, communications and marketing. Before joining A.S. Roma, Zanzi worked on behalf of the America’s Cup Event Authority in 2012, overseeing media rights licensing.
Zanzi is also an accomplished athlete, having represented the US national handball team as goalkeeper from 1997-2007 and winning a bronze medal with the team at the 2003 Pan American Games. He was named the United States Olympic Committee’s Team Handball Athlete of the Year in 2000, 2002, and 2004.
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About FOX Networks Groups
FOX Networks Group (FNG) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, sports, factual and movie channels in 45 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FNG’s core channel brands include FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Life, FOX+ and National Geographic Channel. FNG’s movie channels include FOX Movies, FOX Movies Premium and SCM (formerly Star Chinese Movies). Our non-linear brands include FOX Play, FOX Play+ and Nat Geo Play. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high- definition extensions, reach over 1.825 billion cumulative households worldwide. In addition, FNG owns and operates two production studios and produces thousands of local programming hours for its wholly owned channels and third parties.
About FOX Sports
The FOX Sports network comprises FOX Sports, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports 3, Asia’s premier Live sports destination, delivering thrilling action from Formula One, MotoGP, all four Tennis Grand Slams, the Golf Majors, the UFC, MLB, Bundesliga, AFC Football and more; FOX Sports Play, the broadband network providing LIVE and on-demand sports properties and additional exclusive content; and www.foxsportsasia.com, the online destination for comprehensive sports content. Fans looking for an authentic sports experience need not look any further than FOX Sports.
For further information, please contact:
Paul Tan
Director, Marketing & Communications (Sports)
FOX Networks Group Asia
DID: +65 6809 3364
Email: paul.tan@fox.com