Setanta loses marketing director

Setanta Sports commercial and marketing director Mark Mohan has quit his role for personal reasons. The Irish-owned sports broadcaster is now seeking a UK-based replacement to take its top commercial and marketing role.

The UK is a major focus for Setanta due to its portfolio of live rights to English and Scottish football matches. In August 2007, it became the first broadcaster other than BSkyB to show live English Premier League football matches, having secured a three-year deal for £392m.

It has since secured live rights to the FA Cup and England internationals as part of a £425m deal with ITV. Its portfolio also includes Scottish Premier League matches, the Uefa Champions League and USPGA golf. Setanta also runs the TV channels for football clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Rangers.

The group has stepped up its marketing activities since securing the Premier League rights, appointing former AOL marketer Tim Ryan in April 2007 as GB marketing director, reporting to Mohan. Ryan joined ahead of Setanta’s first Premier League season with a brief to position the broadcaster as a serious alternative to Sky Sports in the pay-TV sports market.

Mohan joined Setanta in April 2006. He will now become a non-executive director of its Irish business.