NBA appoints Sunny Malik as India Country Head to drive market growth

Mumbai: The National Basketball Association (NBA) has appointed Sunny Malik as Country Head for India, marking a leadership transition as the league sharpens its focus on one of its fastest-growing international markets.

Malik, who has been with the NBA for over six years, steps into the role after serving as Business Head for Global Partnerships and Media in South Asia. In his new position, he will lead the league’s overall strategy and operations in India, spanning partnerships, media distribution, fan development, events, retail and new business initiatives.

“India is at an important stage in its basketball journey, with growing fan momentum, strong partner interest and meaningful opportunities to build the game at scale,” Malik said in a LinkedIn post announcing his appointment. “Looking forward to working closely with our partners, teams and the broader ecosystem as we continue shaping the next phase of growth.”


Based in Mumbai, Malik will be responsible for expanding the NBA’s footprint in the country and driving long-term ecosystem development, with a focus on grassroots initiatives as well as commercial growth.

Before taking on the India leadership role, Malik led the NBA’s partnerships, media distribution and licensing efforts across South Asia. In that capacity, he played a key role in scaling the league’s commercial presence and launching initiatives across content, merchandising and fan engagement.

He succeeds Rajah Chaudhry, who is also the Head of Strategy, Asia Pacific.

Malik acknowledged Chaudhry’s contribution, noting that the past few years had helped build a strong foundation for the league in the market.

The NBA has been steadily investing in India, viewing the country as a critical growth market given its young demographic, rising digital consumption and increasing interest in basketball.

The league has focused on grassroots development programmes, school and college outreach, and partnerships with broadcasters and digital platforms to expand its reach.

Prior to joining the NBA, Malik worked with Zee Entertainment Enterprises and spent several years in the financial services sector, with stints at Barclays, HSBC and Indiabulls, among others. He has over two decades of experience across banking, media and sports.