Mumbai: Hrishikesh Shende has joined Kolkata-based multinational conglomerate RP Sanjiv Goenka Group as its chief operating officer – sports, according to his LinkedIn update.

In a career spanning 17 years, Shende is a sports industry professional with experience in brand marketing, consumer product marketing, sports market, sponsorship sales, and contract negotiations. Under RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, he will be managing the sports brands Lucknow Super Giants (IPL franchise), RP-SG Mavericks (table tennis), and ATK Mohun Bagan Football Club.

His previous assignment was sports lead at RoundGlass, an Indian NGO based in Punjab. He was associated with adidas for eight years and was business director sports – emerging markets before he moved on from the sports giant in 2021. He also had a stint with IMG Reliance as general manager – football. Prior to that, he was working at Liverpool Football Club.

Shende has completed his MBA in the football industry from the University of Liverpool and LLB from Government Law College, Mumbai.