Leaders Sport Business Podcast

Outgoing Meta wearables chief Dan Reed joins the Leaders Sport Business podcast this week. Having announced his departure from the technology giant earlier this month, Reed reflects on 11 years at the helm of various departments at Facebook and then Meta. Hired out of his role as President of the NBA's G League, Reed initially joined Facebook to head up its nascent sports activity as Director of Global Sports Partnerships in 2014. Building out a crack team - which included the likes of Peter Hutton, Joyee Biswas, Ronan Joyce, Jordan Gruber, and Nick Shaw among many others - Reed oversaw the development of Facebook Live as a viable sports streaming platform, 'experimenting' with hundreds of millions of dollars of rights as the company tested different strategic directions in sport. As VP of Global Sports and Media Partnerships, Reed developed the growing content creator ecosystem inside Facebook's portfolio of apps, and tailored new monetization models for all manner of sports-focused entities and individuals. And as COO of Reality Labs, essentially Meta's wearables division, Reed drove a multi-billion dollar business in AI, AR, VR and Mixed Reality products, pioneering what many believe will be the next iteration of mass-adopted connected devices through the Meta Rayban partnership.

Major League Baseball's CMO and the President of the Harlem Globetrotters join Leaders Content Director David Cushnan in New York on the fringes of 4se, SBJ's sport-meets-entertainment conference.MLB's Uzma Rawn Dowler explains how the league's MLB Life platform is at the heart of its growing activity on fashion, music, gaming, arts and entertainment, and how she's managing her role as the league's CMO and SVP, Global Partnerships.Harlem Globetrotters President Keith Dawkins shares how he's trying to turn the storied organisation, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, from a touring show into a ‘beloved global entertainment brand'.And Daniel Yaw-Miller, who writes about and observes everything going on at the intersection of sport, culture and fashion, reviews what he heard at 4se, including detail of the NFL's fashion strategy and the growing influence of the league's Fashion Editor Kyle Smith.

World Snooker Tour CEO Simon Brownell reflects on crowning a Chinese champion, alongside Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan.In a wide-ranging conversation just after WST's debrief of this year's tournament, Brownell discusses the plan to maximise Zhao Xintong's success at the Crucible, in China and beyond; Sheffield's future as host of the World Championships; the sport's Olympic hopes and global ambitions; and how to engage a new generation of fans.

Exploring the influence Donald Trump will exert on the 2026 Fifa men's World Cup and LA 2028 Olympics, with sports communications strategist John Zerafa.John joins Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan for a tour of global geopolitics, starting at the White House where Trump this week hosted Fifa President Gianni Infantino. They discuss the implications of Trump's Presidency and policies on the upcoming Club World Cup, from visas to tariffs to how to handle those Oval Office encounters.They also consider what might be in Kirsty Coventry's in-tray as she takes over the IOC Presidency, how the competition to host the 2036 summer Games is shaping up, where Saudi's sports strategy stands, China's first world snooker champion and Lego F1 cars.

Following Wrexham AFC's latest promotion at the weekend, CEO Michael Williamson joins Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan.He lifts the lid on a memorable day - and night - at the Racecourse Ground, as Wrexham secured its third successive promotion, as well as early planning for life in the second-tier Championship next season.Williamson also discusses the redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground, rising expectations, English football's new independent regulator and, a year into his CEO role, how he came to work for owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

LA Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker joins James Emmett and David Cushnan on the Leaders Sport Business Podcast this week. After guiding James around the Clippers' staggering new $2 billion arena, Zucker sat down to chat through the process of pioneering new tech in sports venues: the facial technology that drives new, smoother fan experiences, the halo board that delivers unprecedented AV impact inside the bowl, as well as the many challenges that come with attempting to build the best.

Snap reflections on our Leaders Meet: Innovation event this week in London, with Craig Hepburn, Art Basel's Chief Digital Officer, and former Virgin Atlantic, McLaren and Chelsea FC Chief Marketing Officer, Claire Cronin.Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan are on location at 180 Studios on The Strand to reflect on two days spent with C-suite leaders from across sport, discussing the biggest global trends - artificial intelligence, the global economy and climate change - with the help of outside of sport perspectives, from the worlds of music, retail, media and technology.They're joined by a couple of experts fresh off the stage - Craig Hepburn assesses how the sports industry is tackling artificial intelligence, while Claire Cronin offers her reflections on the two days and her conversation with Waitrose Executive Director, James Bailey.

Lancashire County Cricket CEO Daniel Gidney takes us inside the Hundred auction, as Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan reflect on the beginning of a new era for English cricket.Gidney has been instrumental in the sale of a 70% stake in the Manchester Originals, part of the England & Wales Cricket Board's process to sell shares in The Hundred franchises.He explains what it was like to be in the thick of February's auction action; the preparatory work that went into establishing a relationship with new partner RPSG Group, owner of the IPL's Lucknow Giants long before that; the impact on his own role as CEO; how the club intends to use the injection of funds - and what happens now, as The Hundred enters its next phase of development.And there's a preview of this week's Leaders Meet: Innovation event, in central London - on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th April. https://leadersinsport.com/sport-business/leaders-events/leaders-meet-innovation/

Philippe Moggio, Kathy Carter and Mark Bullingham are on the show this week, as Leaders duo James Emmett and David Cushnan reflect on a week of soccer activity on and off the pitch in LA last month. CONCACAF General Secretary Philippe Moggio, former LA28 CEO and Soccer United Marketing President Kathy Carter, and FA CEO Mark Bullingham joined James for a series of conversations in the corridors at the inaugural Business of Soccer event in LA a few days ago. The event - put on by Leaders and SBJ in collaboration with CONCACAF and Major League Soccer - brought together all the major powerbrokers in North American soccer ahead of a pivotal 15 months as the continent prepares to host the biggest ever Fifa World Cup. On the agenda: capitalizing on the momentum the tournament will bring; building women's soccer into a commercial behemoth; oversaturation in the market; and an MLS calendar switch that could prove transformative.

India's ambitions to stage the Olympic Games and become a sport-forward nation dominated conversation at last week's RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, and Leaders' Content Director David Cushnan is joined by Portas Consulting's Nic Coward to reflect on a fantastic few days in Bangalore. They consider how India's plan to host the Games in 2036 are progressing, the ways in which the plan is galvanising national and state governments, corporate brands and influential and wealthy figures across the country, and how Thursday's election of Kirsty Coventry as the next IOC President might alter the bidding landscape. There's also a review of who said what on-stage at Bangalore's Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, including Virat Kohli's rare sit-down interview; husband and wife duo Vita and Jalaj Dani, who are transforming table tennis in India; Fifa's SVP, Director of Commercial Partnerships; and SURJ's new Chief Commercialization Officer, Chloe Targett-Adams.

With horse racing's annual Cheltenham Festival playing out in the background, Jockey Club Partnerships Director Carey Weeks takes Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett on a tour of the Orchard, the racecourse's buzzing sponsor village.The episode features on-the-ground conversations with sponsorship leaders from the likes of Brooklands Watch Company and Debenhams.Later on, we hear from Leaders Managing Director Laura McQueen as she helps to launch the new 'Be the lead' initiative at an International Women's Day event in the plush surrounds of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park.Liesel Jolly, women's football lead for Visa, also joins the show to talk about sustainable investment into women's sport, and to shed some light on some new thinking behind women's football as a sponsorship proposition.

With the new MLS season underway, Radhika Duggal joins Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan to discuss the marketing activity at the centre of the league's 30th anniversary.She explains how the season-launch Game On campaign came to life, why a Super Bowl advert was just one of many touchpoints for it and why players - as creators, brands and influencers in their own right - are increasingly at the heart of how MLS markets itself.Duggal also reflects on her first 10 months in the role. The former Pfizer, JPMorgan and Super executive shares her first impressions of the sports industry and considers what the CMO role looks like in sport versus the worlds of financial services and fintech.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

Behind the scenes at F1's partner day, Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan speak to senior brand executives from some of the sport's key sponsors.You'll hear from Moët Hennessy's Sport Partnership Director, Vincent Borjun-Privé, on why experiences are at the heart of LVMH's new relationship with F1; Thomas Mulders, Global Sponsorships Manager at Heineken, on ten seasons of F1 partnership; Globant's Global Sports Partnerships Head, Nicolas Rey Petit and Global SVP, Valeria Abadi on why the fastest growing IT company in the world has become an F1 partner; Amazon Web Services' (AWS) Head of Motorsport Partnerships, Mike Aghataher, on how its partnerships with F1 and Ferrari work in lockstep; and Lenovo's Global Sponsorship Director, Lara Rodini, on why the brand chose F1 to sit alongside its Fifa World Cup partnership.There's also reflections on the highly-produced F175 show at the O2 Arena and why it's unlikely to be a one-off, plus an analysis of F1's commercial health going into the 2025 season.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

F1's Chief Commercial Officer Emily Prazer and Director of Commercial Partnerships Jonny Haworth sit down with Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan, during F1's hectic launch week in London.In a wide-ranging conversation on the commercial health and outlook for F1, they discuss the sport's enviable global partner roster - including major new brands like LVMH, American Express, Santander and Kit Kat and, as well as new licensing partners like Lego.Prazer breaks down her dual role as CCO and President of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and explains how LVGP and F1's teams are in the process of being integrated. They also discuss creativity in partner relationships and activations, their fresh focus on experiential and their desire to work with partners to expand F1's footprint off track.The conversation was recorded at F1's partner day, at London's Ham Yard Hotel on Monday 17th February.

Sports media and marketing expert David Stubley, author of ‘Gamechangers and Rainmakers: How Sport Became Big Business', joins Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan, to discuss what there is to learn from the sports industry brands that no longer exist.It's a whistle-stop tour through decades of sports industry history, including the American Football League and its eventual merger with the NFL; Billie Jean King's breakaway Virginia Slims Tour; Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket; British Sky Broadcasting's role in the launch of the Premier League; the rise and fall of Horst Dassler's ISL; and the dotcom bubble burst that did for OnDigital, Quokka and Sportal.There's also time to reflect on a busy sports industry week: the Super Bowl in review; Uefa's decision to go exclusive with Relevent and end a decades-long relationship with TEAM; and rumblings of new global basketball leagues.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan share what's worth knowing in the global sports industry this week.They're joined by Steve Gera, President and COO of Grand Slam Track, the new athletics series fronted by Olympic legend Michael Johnson. Gera shines a light on this week's US media rights announcements for the first season, starting in April, and the calendar of Slams, beginning in Kingston, Jamaica and then moving to Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.He also discusses the challenges of building a start-up property, the dangers of going too big too soon, Grand Slam Track's position as a disrupter in global athletics and why and how he's targeting the youngest fanbase in sport.Elsewhere, where the best Super Bowl parties in New Orleans this weekend might be and the remarkable early results of the auctions to decide the new investors in English cricket, as the sales process for the Hundred concludes.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan share what's worth knowing in the global sports industry this week.They're joined by Juan Delgado, CEO of Footballco, the 350-person digital media company that owns and operates online brands such as GOAL, Mundial and Kooora. He explains how audiences consuming football content are growing and morphing into fully-fledged communities, the monetisation models underpinning that growth and the football content trends and markets he's keeping tabs on.Elsewhere there's time to reflect on the era of real estate-focused sports team owners and Fanatics' plan to open its first global flagship collectibles and merchandise store, on London's Regent Street.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan share what's worth knowing in the global sports industry this week. They're joined by Rachel Knight, Co-Managing Director of Women's Sports Group. She details the ins and outs of the media rights process WSG ran for the Women's Super League, which resulted in October's landmark deal which will see the BBC and Sky Sports paying a reported £65 million for the next five seasons of live coverage. She reflects on the marketplace dynamics that impacted the lengthy negotiations, the clips carve-out for teams and players, what she would have done differently and the challenge of comparison, with the men's game and the NWSL, as the deals were being stitched together. There's also time to chat about Sixth Street's new women's football multi-club ownership group; Juventus tapping into The King's League; and FC Barcelona breaking the 20 million subscriber mark on YouTube. To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan share what's worth knowing in the global sports industry this week.In the mix: The Australian Open's Nintendo Wii tie-up and a new breed of alt-casts to complement - and in some cases circumvent - traditional broadcast rights arrangements; the debut of 3x3 women's basketball league Unrivaled later this week, which is taking place, like the new TGL golf series, in a brand new broadcast-first venue; the launch of Kroenke Signature Properties, to sell sponsorships across all his sports properties including the LA Rams and Arsenal; and more evidence of London's status as an events capital, as MLB releases economic impact details of last summer's International Series at London Stadium.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan strap in for 2025, exploring what's worth knowing in the global sports industry this week.They're joined by Ed Warner, Chair of UK Athletics between 2007 and 2017 and current Chair of GB Wheelchair Rugby and the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships, to discuss who'll be the next President of the International Olympic Committee and the routes to victory for the seven candidates in the race. Warner sets up the background to March's election, as outlined in his Sport Inc. newsletter.There's also time to discuss a proposal to turn Test cricket into a two-tier system; the dynamics of European basketball as IMG renews with the Euroleague; and whether China might be refocusing on football.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, the weekly sports industry newsletter from Leaders, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan are in reflective mood, as they review the stories of the sports industry year - as clicked on by you, the sports industry, in our weekly Worth Knowing newsletter.They recall Netflix's big commitment to sport (and entertainment); organisational chop and change at Manchester United; a stream of investment chatter; the proposed merger between the ATP and WTA tour; LVMH's takeover of the Paris Olympics; George Pyne's investment case for women's sport; the rise of the Chief of Staff; the Saudi money steering the big decisions; campaigns that struck a nerve; rebrands that struck a chord; why you should fire your CMO; what makes a good CEO, and a whole lot more.To subscribe to Worth Knowing, visit: leadersinsport.com/newsletters

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan buckle up and settle back to review the stories of the sports industry week.They're joined by Isabelle Stewart, F1's Head of Original Content to discuss her two years in the role so far; the logistics, planning and purpose behind Brad Pitt's F1 movie as filming wraps; what F1's content slate looks like now and could look like soon, from scripted drama to new short-form formats; and targeting and appealing to fresh new audiences.There's also time to salute McLaren and their CEO Zak Brown, after the team won its first F1 Constructors' Championship since 1998. Plus the studio is full of excitement and anticipation in the wake of news that the Grand Sumo Tournament is heading to London next October.

Leaders' Content Director David Cushnan and Senior Content Manager Henry Breckenridge run head-on into the stories of the sports industry week.They're joined by Matt Porter, Chief Executive of the Professional Darts Corporation, ahead of this month's World Championships at Alexandra Palace in London. He offers his SWOT analysis on the sport at the end of 2024 and explains the fan-first, party-first approach the PDC has refined over the past few years; expansion around the world to venues like Madison Square Garden; the phenomenon that is teen sensation Luke Littler; what it's like filming for Netflix; and what to wear for a night at the darts.Elsewhere, David and Henry reflect on the impact Ilona Maher - the world's most followed rugby player - signing for Bristol Bears could have on Premiership Women's Rugby, and the wider unsettled outlook for rugby union.

Welcome to the third and final episode of Model making, a series from the Leaders Sport Business Podcast that analyses the flux across the global sports industry and asks whether we need a new commercial vision for sport.Hosted by Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Viagogo's International Lead Matt Drew, the three-part series puts sport's traditional revenue streams under the microscope.If media rights increases cannot be taken for granted and sponsorship revenue is under threat, where are the new business lines for rights holders to focus on? This episode is focused on the solutions to some of sport's most existential challenges. To help them make sense of the shifting sands around them, the pair are joined by four illustrious guests:John Skipper, formerly of ESPN and DAZN and the architect of some of the biggest rights deals in US TV history; Brett Gosper, Head of Europe & APAC at NFL and the executive in charge of pushing American football's international boundaries, having previously done so at World Rugby;Simon Denyer, serial founder and former leader of DAZN, current leader of PEAK, and board member on a number of global properties including the WTA;Zarah Al-Kudcy, the newly installed CRO at the Women's Professional League Ltd, and a commercial leader at Chelsea, Formula 1 and the ICC among many before that.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan dig in to the stories the sports industry week.They tackle the big news that the Premier League is launching its own media production business from the start of the 2026/27 season, ending a 20 year partnership with IMG which has operated under the Premier League Productions brand, delivering coverage and content to its international broadcast partners.There's discussion on the rationale behind the move, the realities of building an in-house media production unit, and what it means for the future of media production agencies like IMG.And there's also a look at F1's decision to grant General Motors/Cadillac an entry, as an 11th team, from 2026, with a project backed by LA Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan dissect some of the stories of sports industry week.They reflect on whether Friday's Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson fight was a win for Netflix; the slightly mesmerising nature of the Vendee Globe app; and the social media trend towards Bluesky.Then, in a conversation recorded at last week's Leaders Sport Performance Summit in London, David chats to Peter Mattson, Red Bull's Global Performance Director. He offers a glimpse inside the energy drinks giant's Athlete Performance Center, the brand's evolving culture and the dynamics of building a high performance athlete within a global marketing machine.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan are out and about at this week's Leaders Sport Performance Summit, looking out over The Oval cricket ground in central London.They're joined by astrophysicist Professor Carole Mundell, the Director of Science at the European Space Agency, fresh off a scintillating presentation on stage, for an outside-of-sport, out-of-this-world conversation on leadership and culture: making complex decisions, managing a multitude of stakeholders (a staff of 500 and perhaps as many as 46,000 people across ESA's 22 member states), and clarity in communication. Plus what happens to black holes when they get indigestion and whether Pluto should feel hard done by for being downgraded to dwarf planet status.There's also time for a rifle through the sports industry stories of the week, including Whoopi Goldberg's new sports network, Barcelona and Nike staying together and the Premier League's continuing efforts to crack down on piracy.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan give their verdict on the sports industry week, then introduce two power conversations from on stage at Leaders Week London.First, Jess Smith, President of soon-to-launch WNBA team Golden State Valkyries sits down with Netball Super League Managing Director, Claire Nelson. Then former Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham is in conversation with Esteve Calzada, the former City Football Group executive who is now CEO of PIF-owned Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal.

Brett Gosper, Head of NFL Europe & Asia-Pacific, takes a quick break from a very busy month of American football to join James Emmett on this week's episode.He shares his top-line reflections from the 2024 London games, along with some impressive and record-breaking stats for the league; plus, what's immediately up next as the NFL touches down in Munich for its second foray to Germany, this weekend.  Elsewhere on the show, Leaders' Strategic Account Manager Javan Odegah shares his reflections on the games, having been in attendance at Wembley when a record-breaking 86,651 crowd witnessed Jacksonville Jaguars beat the New England Patriots.

Welcome to episode two of model making, a new series from the Leaders Sport Business Podcast that analyses the flux across the global sports industry and asks whether we need a new commercial vision for sport.Are the business models that have sustained professional sport for so long at breaking point? And what are the solutions that sport's most innovative thinkers are endorsing?Big questions answered on-stage at Leaders Week London 2024 by Chicago Cubs and Marquee 360's Senior Vice President, Cale Vennum, and Viagogo's International Lead, Matt Drew. James Emmett, Leaders Editorial Director was in the moderator's chair to find out how ticketing can help unlock additional revenue streams and engagement.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan return to the studio, for some more reflections on Leaders Week London and to review the most notable stories of the sports industry week.As IMG, On Location and Professional Bull Riders move from Endeavor to TKO ownership, they consider the corporate storytelling implications and ponder whether it's the precursor to further change.They also discuss the WNBA's upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, after the players' decision to opt out of the current agreement early, as well as luxury brand Chanel's decision to sponsor the annual university Boat Race along London's River Thames.

In this episode, James Emmett and David Cushnan are joined by special guests, Richard Conway, Founder & Managing Partner at Spectacle Partners, and serial sports industry board member, Nic Coward, to review the action from a barnstorming return to Leaders Week London.The team touch on a number of topics from Day 2 of The Summit at Allianz Stadium as well as the on-stage sessions, which featured Nikki Doucet, Chief Executive Officer, Women's Professional Leagues Ltd; Kealan Casey, Director of Brand Marketing, North America at BBC Studios; Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous; and Mark Ashton, Chief Executive Officer at Ipswich Town FC.

James Emmett and David Cushnan reflect on a terrific opening day at The Summit from Allianz Stadium, which saw over 2,000 movers and shakers from across the global sports industry gather at the home of England Rugby.The duo discuss a range of themes and talking points from on-stage sessions, which featured a stellar lineup of speakers across three stages. Alongside the dialogue, this episode contains short snippets of sessions and from around the venue, featuring Gerard Piqué, Kosmos; Sally Horrox, World Rugby, Mark Shapiro, Endeavor; Don Garber, Major League Soccer; Gareth Balch, Two Circles and England Cricketer Tammy Beaumont.

Welcome to model making, a new series from the Leaders Sport Business Podcast that analyses the flux across the global sports industry and asks, do we need a new commercial vision for sport? Are the business models that have sustained professional sport for so long at breaking point? And what are the solutions that sport's most innovative thinkers are endorsing? Hosted by Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett and Viagogo's International Lead Matt Drew, the three-part series puts sport's traditional revenue streams under the microscope. Where and why are media rights flatlining? Are sponsorship dollars under threat below the elite level? And are matchdays being maximised? To help them make sense of the shifting sands around them, the pair are joined by three illustrious guests: - John Skipper, formerly of ESPN and DAZN and the architect of some of the biggest rights deals in US TV history; - Simon Denyer, serial founder and former leader of DAZN, current leader of PEAK, and board member on a number of global properties including the WTA; - Zarah Al-Kudcy, the newly installed CRO at the Women's Professional League Ltd, and a commercial leader at Chelsea, Formula 1 and the ICC among many before that.

James Emmett and David Cushnan are joined by Leaders Managing Director, Laura McQueen, and Event Director, Hannah Redfern, to preview the annual sportsbiz extravaganza that is Leaders Week London. It's a week filled with forums, think tanks, Awards and social get-togethers – taking place all day, all night, all week, right across the city. The week culminates with The Summit at Allianz Stadium: a place where you'll find sport's biggest names and the most progressive ideas shaping the industry, all in the company of 2000 attendees from all corners of the globe.And ahead of all of that, the team share their top tips for maximizing on your time out of office, who to look out for on the speaker programme, and where to go if (surprisingly) you're yet to secure your event pass.

Mary Bekhait is one of the global entertainment industry's leading talent executives.As Chief Executive of YMU Group, she leads an international business representing mega stars across music, sport, entertainment, literary, social, art and business management, including: Davina McCall, Simon Cowell, Tom Daley, Clare Balding, Ant & Dec, Fred again, and many more. She joined James Emmett and David Cushnan in the Leaders studio (ahead of an important business call with Simon Cowell) to run through the inner workings of YMU Group; her top tips for building and nurturing relationships (forged from a 20-year career in talent management); how brand sports marketers can best work with and maximise athlete talent; who she enjoys managing the most and what great output looks like on LinkedIn.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan slip back into the studio to consider the stories of the sports industry week.As Whisper secures a big contract for host broadcast services at Roland Garros, they reflect on the changes, creativity and innovation in the sports production market - and, as Lionel Messi launches his own studio, when athletes and influencers might join the contest for big live production work.Then David plays in a couple of conversations from last week's Two Circles EMEA Client Summit in London. The agency's Co-Founder and CEO Gareth Balch sets the scene, then Arsenal's Chief Commercial Officer Juliet Slot, Two Circles' Managing Director of Ventures Annie Panter and Zarah Al-Kudcy, who has just started as Chief Revenue Officer at WPLL, the new entity operating the Women's Super League and Women's Championship on England, sit down to discuss how to scale women's football. They explain how fan insights are impacting the stadium experience, getting ticketing strategies and pricing right (and wrong), how to carefully read the new wave of data being collected and how it's informing approaches to marketing the women's game.

Welcome to Convergence – a mini-series from the Leaders Sport Business Podcast about the launch of new verticals within an existing sports business. It's a show about strategy, growth, and fitting new products to meet audience demand.In this series we'll be looking at sports media, betting, gamification, collectibles, merchandising and more – and it's being co-hosted by me, James Emmett from Leaders, and Sam Sadi, the CEO of LiveScore, the football scores app-come-betting company that has supercharged its own growth off the back of a converged offering.Diane Gotua, a strategic business leader with nearly two decades of global leadership experience in strategy, operations and corporate development within sports and finance, is our guest for episode three. Diane currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Strategy at Fanatics, having previously worked at the NBA for 9 years in a variety of leadership and strategy roles.

Dan Rossomondo has spent over 20 years in the sports industry delivering international business strategies to accelerate growth across sponsorship, media, licensing and retail. He cut his teeth at the NBA where he helped to supercharge the organisation as a sports, entertainment and lifestyle property for over a decade. He's now bringing that experience and track record to MotoGP, where he was appointed as CCO in 2023, and is responsible for leading the media rights, global commercial partnerships and digital business teams.One year into the role, he joined Leaders Editorial Director James Emmett to reflect on the journey so far, the incredibly exciting time for the sport, and how he's planning to fuel the continued internal growth of MotoGP's profile, audience and revenue. This episode is part of the Leaders in Focus series, produced in partnership with IMG.

Welcome to Convergence - a mini-series from the Leaders Sport Business Podcast about the launch of new verticals within an existing sports business. It's a show about strategy, growth, and fitting new products to meet audience demand. In this series we'll be looking at sports media, betting, gamification, collectibles, merchandising and more - and it's being co-hosted by me, James Emmett from Leaders, and Sam Sadi, the CEO of LiveScore, the football scores app-come-betting company that has supercharged its own growth off the back of a converged offering. DAZN's CEO of Growth Markets, Pete Oliver - the executive who leads the group's activities and teams in markets such as the UK, US and Canada - is our guest for episode two.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett popped his wellies on and headed down to Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire this week to join an exclusive gathering of sports, media and entertainment leaders at the IMG x RedBird Summit. 'Raising the Game' was the theme of the event, and much of the conference content was future-focused, aimed at identifying, in RedBird CEO Gerry Cardinale's words, how to 'skate to where the puck is going'. In amongst the on-stage sessions, the off-stage masterclasses, and the catch-ups across the farm, James sat down with a handful of the guests for a series of low time-high impact conversations. On the show, you'll hear from: - RedBird's Gerry Cardinale - on his investment thesis and the opportunity to rejuvenate world class IP at AC Milan, Paramount, and the Telegraph; - IMG's President of Media Adam Kelly - on his vision for the event, and the current state of play in the sports media rights market; - PCP Capital Partners CEO Amanda Staveley - on her exit from Newcastle United and the buyer/seller dynamics in elite football ownership; - Gymshark Chief Brand Officer Noel Mack - on building a British brand with unicorn status; - IMG EVP Hillary Mandel - on a year of major deal making with the USTA and ESPN, Roland Garros and Warner Brothers Discovery, and the NWSL.

Welcome to Convergence - a mini-series from the Leaders Sport Business Podcast about the launch of new verticals within an existing sports business. It's a show about strategy, growth, and fitting new products to meet audience demand. In this series we'll be looking at sports media, betting, gamification, collectibles, merchandising and more - and it's being co-hosted by me, James Emmett from Leaders, and Sam Sadi, the CEO of LiveScore, the football scores app-come-betting company that has supercharged its own growth off the back of a converged offering.  

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan hit the studio again for a wander through the sports industry stories of the week.On the eve of the Uefa Champions League draw, they're joined by Uefa Marketing Director Guy-Laurent Epstein to help explain the revamped competition format and the reasons behind the changes.Epstein also discusses partner reaction to the new-look tournament; 30 years of Champions League brand finessing; the rise of the Women's Champions League; North America's growing interest in football and what that means for organisations like Uefa; what he's looking for in an agency partner, as a new sales cycle looms; and the approach to innovation in a football market that prizes tradition.

Marina Storti has spent over 20 years in the sports industry delivering strategies to accelerate commercial growth, engage diverse fans and impact positive change.And she's been bringing all of that experience and expertise to her new role as CEO of WTA Ventures – the commercial arm of the WTA – having previously earned her sporting stripes at Sky and NOW TV.One year into the role, she joined David Cushnan and James Emmett to reflect on an incredibly exciting time for women's professional tennis; the partnerships that she's overseen during her tenure so far - most notably with Saudi Arabia - and how she's planning to guide WTA Ventures in an innovative new era of the WTA.This episode is part of the Leaders in Focus series, produced in partnership with IMG.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan gather their thoughts and reflect on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.They discuss the broadcast coverage and tone, for the BBC, Discovery and NBC in particular; sponsor creep in the wake of LVMH and Samsung's activity in Paris; the visual spectacle and the power of the still image; the challenges ahead for organisers of LA28; and Thomas Bach firing the gun on an IOC Presidential election next year.

Claire Nelson is in the midst of overseeing the relaunch of Netball Super League. As Managing Director, she's plotting a 10-year path to professionalisation for the newly-restructured eight-team league and intent on growing the sport around the UK.On this edition of Leaders in Focus, she shares those plans; her approach to breaking the bad news to the existing teams that won't be getting a place in the new league format; why working with Premier League club Nottingham Forest – which acquired one of the franchises - could open up a world of opportunity; and the commercial models that underpin the Super League's growth strategy.She also discusses life as a CEO; the progress being made in EDI across sport; and how to make room for brands looking to be creative – and even edgy - when activating in and around women's sport.

Leaders' Editorial Director James Emmett and Content Director David Cushnan are reunited for a chinwag about the global business of sport.They reflect on the summer of sport and hospitality so far - from Wimbledon to the British Grand Prix - and consider the latest state of play at the NBA, as its new media deal nears completion, and the health of tennis and golf.Then, on the eve of the Olympic Games, they ponder the major storylines and pointers of Paris 2024, including the baffling logistical and security operation for the opening ceremony along the River Seine; the role and integration of LVMH into various aspects of the Games experience; the political clouds hanging over the event; and the ambitious hospitality programme being delivered for the IOC by On Location.

Leaders' Content Director David Cushnan rattles through the big stories of the sports industry week - media rights updates from the NBA and Ligue 1, and the IOC-Saudi deal for the Olympic Esports Games - before two more conversations recorded at last month's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He was joined by two athletes transitioning into executive roles, operating in growing, challenger sports in the US.Brazil's Helio Castroneves is a four-time Indy 500 winner, who is gradually winding down his racing career and moved into team ownership in Indycar.Paul Rabil, one of the great lacrosse players, co-founded PLL in 2019 and has put it on a growth path, helped by a major ESPN media deal and a switch this year to a city-based model for its eight competing teams.- - -For the fifth year in a row, Leaders in Sport is partnering with The Women's Sport Collective and Women in Football to offer funded places at October's Leaders Week London for women and nonbinary people working in sport. For more information and to apply visit leadersinsport.com

Leaders' Content Director David Cushnan is back with the stories of the sports industry week, while Editorial Director James Emmett chips in with two more conversations from last month's Cannes International Festival of Creativity.England and Arsenal footballer Alessia Russo was first to drop in to the Sport Beach, hosted by Stagwell, for a chat about working with brands, and learning from the creative and marketing worlds.Then climber Alex Honnold, perhaps best known for his Free Solo film, stopped by to discuss how to tell the best sports stories and balancing performance with commercial work. - - -For the fifth year in a row, Leaders in Sport is partnering with The Women's Sport Collective and Women in Football to offer funded places at October's Leaders Week London for women and nonbinary people working in sport. For more information and to apply visit leadersinsport.com

Recorded at The All England Lawn Tennis Club on the eve of the 2024 Championships, Sally Bolton discusses life as Wimbledon's CEO.In a wide-ranging conversation on Leaders in Focus, in partnership with IMG, she reflects on the varying leadership styles required to manage a two-week Grand Slam, a thriving year-round club and relations with a host of partners and global tennis stakeholders.She also assesses the overall health of sport in the UK, 12 years on from London 2012 and after her experiences running the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the 2017 World Athletics Championships.Bolton pinpoints Wimbledon's role in discussions over the future direction of professional tennis, as the four Grand Slams are working more collaboratively; shares how she motivates and challenges her team; outlines the pursuit of perfection and the art of making that look effortless; and shares some of the leadership traits - resilience, transparency - that are essential in one of world sport's most prestigious jobs.

Leaders' Content Director David Cushnan brings you the stories of the sports industry week, while Editorial Director James Emmett brings you a couple of heavyweight brand CMO conversations from last week's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. At the Sport Beach, hosted by Stagwell, he sat down with Don McGuire, CMO of Qualcomm, a B2B company that, through its Snapdragon brand, is about to become much more visible, as Manchester United's new front-of-shirt sponsor. Then he catches up with Mark Kirkham, CMO of International Beverages at PepsiCo, who reflects on how the best storytelling in sports marketing happens - and where it's happening in 2024.