Chief Executive Officer

Role: CEO of India for Kabuni, a London-based AI cricket coaching start-up

About the Opportunity

This role offers a unique opportunity to establish yourself as a definitive value-creator, with Kabuni's growth in its core Indian market directly attributable to your leadership. As a start-up, we align long-term success through equity-weighted compensation, enabling you to share substantially in the corporate value you help create.

Company Overview

• Sports-technology scale-up developing an AI-powered coaching platform using wearable cameras and licensed broadcast archives
• Kabuni has successfully raised £1m in seed funding and is actively working towards its Series A round, providing an excellent foundation for growth and expansion
• Initial focus on cricket with plans to expand to other ball sports
• Secured significant support from Indian cricket community, including Sourav Ganguly as Global Ambassador
• Established Ambassador program across 800 private schools serving 800,000 students in India
• Backed by experienced leadership team with track record in sports, technology, and scaling businesses

Please see Kabuni's website for further background.

About the Role

• Founding CEO for Kabuni's India operations, responsible for building the business from ground up in Mumbai.
• Establish Kabuni as the leading sports-tech brand in India across schools, academies, and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Leverage unique ambassador network and cricket community relationships to drive rapid user adoption.
• Shape and execute local market strategy while maintaining alignment with global leadership.
• Mission-driven culture focused on democratising sports coaching through technology.
• Autonomous leadership role with significant decision-making authority.
• Fast-paced, high-growth environment with direct access to global leadership.
• Regular collaboration with London HQ while maintaining local operational independence. Low-ego, high-accountability team culture.
• Fully supported by established global infrastructure and expertise.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead Mumbai office, setting corporate culture and operational frameworks
• Build, manage, and grow India-based team as business scales over next 5 years
• Own and expand Ambassador programme across 800 private schools (800,000 students)
• Drive commercial relationships, rights negotiations, marketing, and media strategy
• Lead both B2B2C sales through schools/academies and direct-to-consumer sales
• Shape and execute local Go To Market strategy in collaboration with Group Leadership
• Build Kabuni brand into household name across Indian cricket communities

Qualifications

• 10+ years commercial leadership experience with proven marketing excellence
• Established reputation and strong network within Indian cricket community
• Demonstrated success scaling consumer brands in Indian market
• Track record in both B2B2C and D2C sales models, preferably with education sector experience
• Experience building and leading high-growth teams in startup or scale-up environments
• Deep passion for cricket and sports technology innovation
• Start-up mindset: proactive, resourceful, and comfortable with ambiguity

Required Skills

• Multi-channel brand building expertise across digital and traditional media
• Experience working with school networks or educational institutions
• Some understanding of sports rights and media partnerships landscape
• Previous exposure to AI or technology-driven consumer products
• Network within Indian sports governing bodies or franchise cricket
• Recognised thought leadership in sports or education sectors

Preferred Skills

• Candidates seeking established corporate structures with guaranteed budgets
• Profiles uncomfortable with equity-weighted compensation or start-up growth phases
• Leaders who prefer predefined roles over shaping strategy and building from scratch
• Risk-averse individuals unwilling to operate in fast-paced, ambiguous environments

Compensation package

• Competitive base salary, reflecting seniority and reputation - to be discussed on a case by case basis
• Performance bonus: Revenue share on school network and sales performance
• Equity: Significant share option package

Application & Next Steps

• All applications via LinkedIn, with covering letters if deemed sensible
• Applications reviewed by 3 December 2025, with applications closing on 2 December
• Include covering note as applicable highlighting relevant experience and connection to Indian cricket
• Initial screening questions to assess fit before interviews based on JW Markets' initial assessment

Hiring Process

• Initial screening with JW Markets
• Video interview with Group CEO or Group COO
• Face-to-face meeting in Mumbai or London (depending on travel schedules)
• Final stage presentation of 5-year strategic plan for Kabuni India
• Reference checks and formal offer

Further info - Leadership Team Profiles

• Nimesh Patel - Founder & CEO
  : Serial entrepreneur with track record of taking two companies public. Lifelong cricket enthusiast and former captain with deep understanding of player development needs. Combines product strategy expertise with distributed team leadership experience.

• Jo Rothwell - Chief Operating Officer
  : Nearly 20 years' financial services experience including strategic operations leadership at Tristan Capital Partners (€15bn AUM). Former competitive swimmer with belief in sports discipline translating to business excellence. Proven track record in scaling organisations with precision and purpose. Chartered Accountant and former M&A adviser at KPMG.

• Patrick Badenoch - Co-Founder & CFO
  : Over 20 years' financial markets experience at Schroders, Bluemountain Capital, Bluecrest and Millennium. Managed $1 billion European assets through 2008 financial crisis and Eurozone crisis. Former inner-city school teacher with firsthand understanding of coaching impact. Passionate cricket parent with son in Surrey county pathway system.

• Alex Lowe - Chief Marketing Officer
  : 20+ years senior sports marketing leadership at Formula 1 with Liberty Media (Head of Branding / Marketing), ESPN, Sky Sports, Bath Rugby and Wasserman. Launched ESPN's TV business in EMEA and led first-ever Formula 1 rebrand. Broadcast sports expertise across rights holder, broadcaster and