Sports Hub CEO Manu Sawhney resigns with immediate effect
Singapore Sports Hub chief executive officer Manu Sawhney has resigned from his post with immediate effect, said a media statement from SportsHub Pte Ltd (SHPL) released on Thursday (25 May).
“Mr Sawhney has decided that the time has come for a new CEO to take the Singapore Sports Hub to its next level. The Board has accepted his resignation,” said the statement.
Sawhney, 50, had taken a leave of absence after a complaint letter that reportedly took issue with his management style was sent to SPHL, the consortium which operates Singapore Sports Hub. The letter’s claim was investigated but the SPHL board deemed that no action was warranted.
“The Board has closed the investigation,” the statement said.
Chief operating officer Oon Jin Teik has been handling Sawhney’s responsibilities in the latter’s absence. “The Board will consider the long-term position of the CEO and COO appointments, and will provide relevant updates in due course,” the statement added.
Ups and downs of Sawhney’s tenure
Sawhney was the managing director of ESPN Star Sports before he taking up the Sports Hub appointment in October 2015.
Under Sawhney’s leadership, the Sports Hub brought in notable events including the upcoming international football friendly between Singapore and Argentina in June and the International Champions Cup football tournament in July. In March, Sports Hub also hosted concerts for Coldplay over two sold-out nights.
However, Sawhney’s tenure was also hit by a number of resignations of senior staff. Sports Hub was also plagued by issues relating to the stadium’s pitch and the sound quality of its concerts.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Manu for his service and contributions during his tenure and wish him the best in his future endeavours,” said Bryn Jones, chairman of the SPHL board, in the statement.
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