IIT Madras appoints ex-ESPN head as CEO of Sports Science Centre of Excellence

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has appointed Ramesh Kumar, former ESPN Vice President, as its new CEO of the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA). He will lead the CESSA in its mission to drive innovation in sports technology globally. 

CESSA, based at IIT Madras, aims to enhance athlete performance and cater to general fitness and health consumers through innovative sports technology products and solutions. The centre will also engage with sporting federations to increase fan engagement and establish an incubator ecosystem for Sport Tech start-ups. 

Supported by interdisciplinary faculties in modeling, data science, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), wearables, and biomechanics, CESSA will provide high-quality sports science education courses and coaching products. The centre plans to collaborate with leading institutes worldwide for cutting-edge research in sports science and analytics over the coming years. 

Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, and the Head of CESSA said, “We are delighted that CESSA will be led by Ramesh, an industry veteran with a proven track record of impact. This aligns with our commitment to be at the forefront of sports tech helping athletes, coaches and all stakeholders.” 

Ramesh Kumar brings over three decades of industry experience, including a significant tenure with the Tata Group and 24 years in the sports industry, leading digital innovation for ESPNcricinfo and overall strategic leadership for ESPN in India and South Asia. 

Outlining his vision, Kumar, said, “I am excited to join the Center and leverage the deep tech knowledge and domain strengths in the fields of AI, ML, data science, IoT/sensors,  computer vision technology and bio mechanical analysis to envision solutions and products for sportspersons, general athletes, media platforms, sports fans, sporting federations and players in the sports education domain.” 

CESSA is already collaborating with institutes like the Sports Authority of India, National Center for Sports Science Research, Inspire Institute of Sports, Northwestern University, and the University of Birmingham.