Sportradar hires Behshad Behzadi as CTO and Chief AI Officer

The leading global sports technology company, Sportradar Group AG, announced an important senior-level hire. The company confirmed earlier this week that it hired Behshad Behzadi for the dual role of Chief Technology Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CTO and CAIO). The executive, bringing solid experience to Sportradar, is expected to play a key role in the implementation and usage of artificial intelligence (AI).

Guided by Behzadi, the company is expected to strengthen its already leading technology and products, with the ultimate goal of bringing even more thrilling customer experiences. Collaborating with Sportradar's executive team, the expert is expected to help guide the adoption and implementation of AI where possible.

In his new role as CTO and CAIO, Behzadi will report directly to Sportradar's Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Koerl. As a part of the C-suite at the leading sports technology company, the expert will be based in its headquarters located in Switzerland. Ultimately, Behzadi's strategic advice, guidance and experience are expected to help Sportradar optimize different processes.

Currently, Behzadi holds a PhD in Bioinformatics from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. He has also accomplished postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. Overall, Behzadi has more than two decades of experience within a range of sectors. Throughout his career, he accumulated significant knowledge and is renowned as a global technology leader with solid experience in speech recognition, generative AI, machine learning, as well as natural language processing and search ranking.

In a statement, Behzadi shared his excitement revealing that it is thrilling to join such a trusted company like Sportradar that stands at the intersection of digital content, sports and technology. Moreover, he added: "I am very excited to join an organization that pushes the boundaries on technology and puts a premium on innovation." Finally, Behzadi explained: "I look forward to working alongside Carsten, the rest of the executive management team and their talented group of creators to continue Sportradar’s history of innovation as the Company enters its next exciting chapter."

Sportradar's Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Koerl, welcomed Behzadi to the company's team and acknowledged the extensive experience he brings. "His proven track record in developing and commercializing product strategies to accelerate growth and innovation, as well as spearheading initiatives aimed at improving internal operational efficiency, will bolster our leadership position, keeping Sportradar at the forefront of technological advancement," explained Sportradar's boss.

Throughout his career, Behzadi held a number of key roles with Google, helping lead its AI-first strategy. He is also the co-founder of Google Lens, Google Assistant, Google Smart Display as well as the Next Gen Assistant.

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