• Rushton has replaced founding CEO Simon Denyer
  • Denyer joins the sports streamer’s parent Access Industries
  • Rushton previously held role chief revenue officer at DAZN

James Rushton DAZN Acting CEO

Rushton: New DAZN acting CEO replaces Denyer

Source: DAZN

DAZN has appointed James Rushton to the role of acting chief executive.

Rushton has replaced Simon Denyer, who created and led DAZN since it was first conceived within Perform Group, a company he founded in 2007.

Denyer has taken on a new role at DAZN-backer Access Industries to advise on new ventures in sports.

DAZN executive chairman John Skipper said: “Simon is an innovator and his talents will be a tremendous asset to Access as that organisation looks to explore new opportunities in the sports landscape. We wish Simon well in this new endeavour.”

The changes to DAZN’s leadership team have been made amid an uncertain time for the sports broadcasting industry as it live sport begins to restart again following restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to his promotion to acting CEO of DAZN Group, Rushton was responsible for the leadership and commercial performance of its in-market teams, in his role as the chief revenue officer at the sports streaming service.

He was also CEO for the launch of DAZN in 2016 and has been “instrumental to our success as a global leader in sports streaming” DAZN said in a statement.

Skipper added: “James has been with the organisation for the better part of two decades and brings a huge amount of experience and skill to enable us to deliver on our potential.”

In another change to the organisation’s leadership structure, Ed McCarthy from Access Industries will join DAZN to play a “critical role in delivering our group’s strategy”.

Skipper said: “Ed has been working closely with me and many senior leaders at DAZN in the last several years and is well-equipped to help us chart a path for future growth.”

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