ICC Media Rights Tender – Indra Nooyi Conflict of Interest: The International Cricket Council has responded to the conflict of interest allegations against board member Indra Nooyi. The former PepsiCo CEO’s role in Amazon’s Board of Directors, raised questions on the fairness of ICC Media Rights Auction. However, ICC responding to the allegations said, she has recused herself from attending meetings and ITT process. Her dual role in Amazon and ICC miffed broadcasters who are already at loggerheads with the ICC over bid documents and lack of transparency. Follow Sports Business News Updates and ICC Media Tender Updates with InsideSpot.IN.
“Indra Nooyi’s appointment to the Amazon Board was declared to the ICC when she took up the role. As a result, she has recused herself from any ICC Board discussion on the ITT process since then. She has not been involved in any capacity and will not be part of the final ICC Board decision on the ITT,” an ICC spokesperson told Cricbuzz.
The former Pepsico CEO became the first female to be appointed as an independent director at the ICC in 2018. In 2019, Amazon named her to its 11-member new board of directors. At the e-commerce giant, she is on the audit committee. She is also a member of ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee.
ICC Media Rights Tender: After conflict of interest allegation against Indra Nooyi, ICC says ‘She has recused herself from any ICC Board discussion’, Follow LIVE Updates
TOI reported that Indra Nooyi is in the knowhow of the ICC’s Future Tours Program (FTP) and upcoming events. With her position in Amazon, she is in a place of the conflict of interest. Interestingly, then President Shashank Manohar, appointed Nooyi to drive ICC’s transparency and governance.
ICC Media Rights Tender: Why Indra Nooyi is in the eye of the storm?
- The former PepsiCo CEO is member of Amazon’s board.
- Amazon is expected to bid for ICC Media Rights.
- As Nooyi is also a member of ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee, it creates an issue of conflict of interest.
- As an ICC member, Nooyi already has information regarding the ICC Future Tour Program (FTP) and the upcoming events.
- The ICC came in Nooyi’s defence, saying she hasn’t been attending ICC board meetings due to her role in Amazon.
- But Indian broadcasters aren’t happy with her presence in both Amazon and ICC board.
ICC Media Rights Tender: After conflict of interest allegation against Indra Nooyi, ICC says ‘She has recused herself from any ICC Board discussion’, Follow LIVE Updates
Did Indra Nooyi violate any rules? No. Nooyi never violated the ICC’s constitution and regulations on ‘Conflict of Interest’ issue. The clause 2.2.4.1 of ICC constitution states that “When a Director, committee member or staff member has or may have an actual, apparent or potential Conflict of Interest in respect of his duties to the ICC, he must disclose the Conflict to the Ethics Officer without delay (and where possible make disclosure prior to his election or appointment as Director, staff member or committee member), or if such Conflict arises during meeting, he must disclose the Conflict to relevant chair of meeting.”
“Imagine if this was the BCCI. Justice Lodha’s recommendations would’ve been trending on Twitter. For anything half this important, BCCI has been dragged to court,” those tracking developments told TOI.
As InsideSport already reported, the Indian broadcasters including Viacom18, Sony, Disney-Star and Zee are not happy with ICC’s media rights tender. They feel that the bid documents lack clarity and that the answers they got were ambiguous.
“ICC officials have made a mess of this. The answers to our queries have made it more confusing for us. All their answers are ambiguous. We asked them who qualifies for STAGE 2? What is the criteria? They don’t have clear-cut answers. Our board may decide to boycott the tender completely. We may, unfortunately, have to take that course,” confirmed a very agitated Senior official of one of the top broadcast houses from India to InsideSport.
ICC Media Rights Tender: After conflict of interest allegation against Indra Nooyi, ICC says ‘She has recused herself from any ICC Board discussion’, Follow LIVE Updates
“The ICC must clarify this. There are huge stakes involved and the ICC should take note of this and allow her to recuse herself. Manohar himself used to publicly announce how he kept “recusing” himself from important meetings in the BCCI to show that he was avoiding all conflict,” they add.
ICC Media Rights Tender – Who are in fray?
- Disney Star
- Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE)
- Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN)
- Viacom18
- Amazon Inc
ICC Media Rights Tender Process
- Bids Submission: The bids must be submitted on August 22 via sealed envelope.
- Bids Opening: Bids will be opened on August 26 in Dubai (last time they were opened in London).
- ICC will then individually negotiate with the bidders
- According to the ICC, the successful bidders will be announced by early September.
- Bidders have raised FLAG over closed bid process as they feel it lacks transparency.
ICC Media Rights Tender: After conflict of interest allegation against Indra Nooyi, ICC says ‘She has recused herself from any ICC Board discussion’, Follow LIVE Updates
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