NBA names content and media chief as new Asia MD as Scott Levy steps down

Scott Levy will step down as executive vice president and managing director of NBA Asia at the end of June 2022. With Levy’s departure, NBA Asia head of global content and media distribution Ramez Sheikh, who joined the league in 2016, will be promoted to managing director for the region following Levy’s departure and report to NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum. Both Levy and Sheikh have been based in Hong Kong. 

According to a statement from NBA, Sheikh has played a key role in the expansion of the NBA media and content business in Asia Pacific, managing key relationships with broadcast, digital and social media partners and overseeing the launch of various new media, content and direct-to-consumer initiatives in the region.  Sheikh has more than 20 years of experience in media across Asia-Pacific, including serving as vice president, network development & distribution for NBCUniversal in Singapore and nearly 10 years in sales and marketing positions at Disney’s Hong Kong and Singapore offices.

“I’m grateful to have had the privilege to work directly with Levy and serve as a member of his leadership team,” said Sheikh.  “The NBA experienced remarkable growth and success in Asia-Pacific under Scott’s stewardship, and I’m incredibly excited and humbled by the opportunity to build on the foundation he established, while also helping to chart new paths for the NBA in the region.”

Meanwhile, Levy, who has overseen the NBA’s operations in the Asia Pacific region since 2009, is leaving his position as he and his family plan to spend more time in their native United States. 

“We are grateful for Levy’s extraordinary contributions to the NBA during his more than two decades with the league,” said Tatum.  “Under his leadership, NBA basketball has experienced unprecedented popularity and growth across the Asia Pacific region.  We wish Levy and his family the best and look forward to working more closely with Ramez, whose extensive digital and media experience and familiarity with the region make him uniquely suited to lead our efforts there.”

Over the past 13 years, Levy has grown the NBA’s business and the game of basketball in Asia Pacific, expanding the league’s media and marketing business and retail licensing partnerships in the region.  He also oversaw the launch of the Jr. NBA program across Asia-Pacific, which has engaged more than 40 million boys and girls, and the execution of successful NBA preseason games in Japan and the Philippines.

Prior to his current role, Levy worked for the NBA for 10 years from 1996 to 2006 in the league’s New York office, where he served as senior vice president, International Television and Marketing Partnerships.  In that role, he helped grow broadcast distribution for NBA games and programming to more than 200 countries and territories and launched a number of new international content offerings, including NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour network.

“My 23 years at the NBA have been extremely rewarding, and I want to thank NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Tatum for his unwavering commitment and support,” said Levy.  “I am fortunate to have worked alongside an incredible group of colleagues who have helped take the game and our business to new heights in Asia-Pacific.  I will miss being part of the NBA but will remain a fan and will follow the continued growth of the league from afar.”

Last month, NBA Asia also opened up an office in Singapore. The Singapore office will expand the league’s existing efforts in the region, which include live game distribution, youth development programming, interactive fan events, merchandise sales and social responsibility efforts.

During the opening Levy shared that the office in Singapore reflects the enormous opportunities to build on that positive momentum by working more closely with valued.

NBA games and programming reach fans in the region through the league’s 20 media partners that span 11 countries and territories and eight languages.  NBA League Pass – the league’s premium live game subscription service – was touted to recorded double-digit subscriber growth in the region over the last three seasons.  The league also has more than 35 million followers on social media across the region.

With the opening of the Singapore office, the NBA now has offices in 15 markets worldwide: Beijing, Dakar, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lagos, London, Madrid, Manila, Mexico City, Mumbai, New York/New Jersey, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Singapore and Toronto.

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