Saran Group, the prominent Turkish media operation, has promoted Azade Zeynep Acar Haksal to become its new chief executive.
The company said the appointment is part of its strategy to “expand its global footprint across sports rights acquisition, broadcasting, OTT platforms, and digital content distribution.”
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Acar Haksal is an experienced executive in the country’s sports media sector, having spent more than 25 years working in sports broadcasting, international media rights, and digital platform strategy.
Over the past five years at Saran, she’s been credited with leading the growth of the company’s OTT platform, S Sport Plus, which is claimed to have surpassed 3 million registered users.
Before joining Saran, Acar Haksal served as director of sports rights and content strategy at Digiturk (part of BeIN Media Group), where she was responsible for major sports rights acquisitions and long-term media rights investments, including the top-tier Turkish soccer league.
In this role, she managed negotiations and strategic partnerships with clubs, leagues, federations, and international rights holders, overseeing the distribution of premium sports content across multiple broadcast platforms.
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By GlobalDataEarlier in her career, she held senior editorial and management roles within Dogus Group, the Turkey-based industrial conglomerate, where she was involved in the launch and development of the NTV Spor sports channel.
Outside of broadcasting, Acar Haksal previously served as business development director at Riot Games.
She also currently serves as the first female board member of the Turkish Esports Federation.
Kenan Saran, chairman of Saran Group, said: “Zeynep’s deep expertise in sports rights acquisition, content strategy, and digital platform growth makes her uniquely positioned to lead Saran Group into its next phase.
“As the global sports media landscape evolves rapidly, her leadership will help expand our international rights portfolio and further strengthen S Sport Plus as a leading destination for premium sports content.”
In terms of Saran’s recent rights activity, the media group last month renewed and expanded its deal with Volleyball World, the commercial body of the sport’s FIVB governing body, to continue showing its top indoor competitions, including the men’s and women’s FIVB Volleyball Championships, Volleyball Nations League, and FIVB Club World Championships until 2032.
Last year, Saran also reclaimed exclusive rights to German soccer’s top-tier Bundesliga and second-tier Bundesliga.2 through the 2028-29 season.
Other rights within its portfolio include soccer’s top-tier Premier League (England), LaLiga (Spain), Serie A (Italy), and UEFA national team tournaments for the 2024-28 cycle.
