Shimon Hoiuzmi Appointed Managing Director of Major League Baseball Japan

Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced the appointment of Shimon Hoiuzmi (Hoiuzmi Shimon) as Managing Director (Representative) of its Japan business, effective immediately. Based in the Tokyo office, Hoiuzmi will oversee MLB's domestic operations in Japan, leading initiatives in fan growth, media rights, sponsorship, licensing, events, and grassroots programs.

With over 20 years of experience in sports, media rights, and business development, Hoiuzmi has held key leadership roles at DAZN Japan (Head of Rights, Vice President), Warner Bros. Discovery (Head of GOLFTV Japan), and WWE Japan (Commercial Director). Moving forward, he will work closely with MLB’s international leadership and domestic partners to further develop MLB’s marketing and business operations in Japan.

Commenting on the appointment, Jeremiah Yolkut, Senior Vice President of Global Operations & Events at MLB, said:

"In Japan, a key market for MLB, Shimon brings deep expertise in media rights, business development, and the Japanese sports industry. His experience in growing global sports properties will create new value for fans, partners, and the broader baseball community in Japan."

Hoiuzmi has previously contributed to the domestic expansion of major international sports through large-scale media partnerships and innovative commercial strategies. He also has experience in launching initiatives tailored to Japanese baseball fans, including collaborations with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams.

On his appointment as Managing Director, Hoiuzmi commented:

"I am honored to join MLB at a time when the connection between Japan and MLB has never been stronger. Through my experience in media rights, content strategy, and partnership development, I have deeply felt the passion Japanese fans have for baseball. I look forward to working alongside Japan’s baseball community and partners to respond to that passion and contribute to the sustainable growth of the sport."

MLB will continue to deliver the best possible experience to fans while expanding its connections across Japan through media partnerships, major events, and grassroots outreach programs.