SB Weekly - the sport business podcast

No Holds Barred is the podcast from SB Weekly where three leading sports executives reveal their industry bugbears, question accepted wisdom, and try to make sense of the major developments currently impacting the global business of sport. Each guest comes armed with a view on an industry topic that’s been piquing their interest over recent weeks, and in a short and impassioned pitch will explain exactly why they feel strongly about it, who’s going wrong and where, and what the implications could be for various sectors of the business. Nothing’s off limits, and the person who argues their case the best will be declared No Holds Barred winner and receive something far better than a trophy - industry kudos. In April 2017's No Holds Barred Matt Cutler is joined by Matt Rogan (Chairman of Two Circles and Executive Director at ESP Properties), Simon Banoub (Global Director of Marketing at Catapult Sports) and Richard Gillis (Founder of Unofficial Partner). Topics discussed include: - Why technology rarely solves rights-holder problems, and can actually cause more damage than good - How and why the media needs to be more responsible when building stories around data - Why 'passion' has become the default focus for lazy sponsorship activations.

Hussain Naqi, Senior Vice-President at NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly podcast. Though based in Florida, the Jaguars have played one home regular season game in London every year since 2013 as part of the NFL International Series. Based in London, Hussain heads up International Development for the team, overseeing the growth of the brand and sponsorship sales efforts in the UK. On the podcast, Hussain discusses: - What British Jaguars fans look like, and the growing fan demographics - The Jaguars sponsorship sell to potential UK brand partners - Grassroots activities to drive participation in American Football - The benefits of working closely with the commercial team at Fulham FC - Working closely with owner Shahid Khan, and what has made him such as successful businessman - The content strategy to drive strong fan engagement.

No Holds Barred is the podcast from SB Weekly where three leading sports executives reveal their industry bugbears, question accepted wisdom, and try to make sense of the major developments currently impacting the global business of sport. Each guest comes armed with a view on an industry topic that’s been piquing their interest over recent weeks, and in a short and impassioned pitch will explain exactly why they feel strongly about it, who’s going wrong and where, and what the implications could be for various sectors of the business. Nothing’s off limits, and the person who argues their case the best will be declared No Holds Barred winner and receive something far better than a trophy - industry kudos. In March 2017's No Holds Barred Matt Cutler is joined by Jim Dowling (Managing Director, Havas Sports & Entertainment Cake), Oli Slipper (Co-Founder of PERFORM) and Eoin Connolly (Editor of SportsPro). Topics discussed include: - The problem with the word "right", and why it is getting in the way of collaborative brand partnerships - Where rights-holders should fit the major social media platforms into their media distribution strategy - Why sport has some of entertainment's best storylines - but needs to start telling them better.

Paul Samuels, Executive Vice-President at AEG Global Partnerships, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Part of sports and entertainment giant AEG - which owns numerous venues and sports teams across the world - AEG Global Partnerships is responsible for creating, selling and servicing marketing and other strategic opportunities for AEG assets. Paul manages the Global Partnerships division outside the United States and has negotiated deals with numerous blue-chip brands including O2, with whom he recently signed a 10-year naming rights extension for the AEG-run O2 Arena in London. On the podcast, Paul discusses: - Why O2's naming rights partnership with AEG works, and how it very nearly didn't happen in the first place - How rights-holders have to be hugely creative in their sponsorship proposals, just to get brand attention - Rapid global growth for AEG and how the investment opportunities come about - Why the ultimate success in sponsorship is renewing with a partner - Exactly how the demands of both rights-holders and sponsor brands have changed during the last decade - The huge opportunities presented by VR, and why AEG is perfectly positioned to capitalise on them.

Carsten Thode, Chief Strategy Officer at Synergy, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Part of the Engine Group, Synergy positions itself as a brand-facing, creatively-driven and digitally-native sports agency that focuses on delivering business value for its array of clients, which include Standard Life Investments, Canterbury and Beko. Carsten started out his career at management consultancy Marakon Associates - working with clients such as Diageo, Schweppes and Lloyds TSB. En route to Synergy he also had a short stint at Manchester United as Head of Strategic Relationships. On the podcast, Carsten discusses: - What's exciting for sports marketing in 2017 - How Synergy is rapidly improving its offering through the Engine Group's capabilities - Work being done to optimise the delivery of branded content - Why there's a large disconnect between rights-holder and brand thinking - How the Formula One 'walled garden' is going to come down - to the benefit of agencies and brands - Why the age of the influencer is over - brands now want micro-influencers - What annoys him about the sports marketing sector in America specifically.

Nick Robinson, Managing Director of sports management and marketing agency ISC, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. ISC helps create partnerships for a variety of rights-holder and brand clients, but is perhaps best known for representing athletes and players across football, rugby and several Olympic and Paralympic sports. Nick cut his teeth at boutique talent agency AMI Sports and Entertainment before joining Octagon in 2009, where he was head of football and represented the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Saido Berahino. On the podcast, Nick discusses: - The case for sports agents - why they're needed and play an important industry role - Why many talent agencies are missing out by not being multi-faceted - What it's like being an agent during a transfer window - Why commercial deals for athletes not at the very peak of their sport are challenging to find - The reasons behind Premier League clubs making a cumulative net profit this transfer window - Rising costs for fans - and why sporting stakeholders need to control them better.

No Holds Barred is the podcast from SB Weekly where three leading sports executives reveal their industry bugbears, question accepted wisdom, and try to make sense of the major developments currently impacting the global business of sport. Each guest comes armed with a view on an industry topic that’s been piquing their interest over recent weeks, and in a 60-second spiel explains exactly why they feel strongly about it, who’s going wrong and where, and what the implications could be for various sectors of the business. Nothing’s off limits, and the person who argues their case the best will be declared No Holds Barred winner and receive something far better than a trophy - industry kudos. In February 2017's No Holds Barred Matt Cutler is joined by Murray Barnett (Chief Commercial Officer at World Rugby), Steve Martin (Global CEO of M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment) and Roger Mitchell (Founding CEO of the Scottish Premier League), and topics discussed include: Why professional football leagues, clubs and players should be up in arms over the 48-team FIFA World Cup Exactly what's stopping some sports sponsors move from counting logos to a more sophisticated ROI model How the European Rugby Champions Cup needs to go back to the drawing board with its commercial model.

No Holds Barred is the podcast from SB Weekly where three leading sports executives reveal their industry bugbears, question accepted wisdom, and try to make sense of the major developments currently impacting the global business of sport. Each guest comes armed with a view on an industry topic that’s been piquing their interest over recent weeks, and in a 60-second spiel explains exactly why they feel strongly about it, who’s going wrong and where, and what the implications could be for various sectors of the business. Nothing’s off limits, and the person who argues their case the best will be declared No Holds Barred winner and receive something far better than a trophy - industry kudos. In January 2017's No Holds Barred Matt Cutler is joined by Ben Wells (Former Marketing Director of Chelsea FC), Dan Ayers (Lead Consultant at Seven League) and Charlie Dundas (Commercial Director at SMG Insight), and topics discussed include: Why sports organisations need to stop focusing on sales, and shift it to long-term strategy Who is best-placed to release the digital product that kills pirate streaming of live sport The need for rights-holders to work harder to understand who their fanbase is.

Rob Mitchell, commercial director at Premier League football club AFC Bournemouth, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly.Bournemouth are one of the extraordinary success stories of English football. Struggling in the fourth-tier less than a decade ago, the Cherries are now in their second Premier League season and thriving under manager Eddie Howe. Rob’s been with the club throughout that rollercoaster journey, joining in 2008 following stints at creative design agency the Cedar Group and rival south-coast team Southampton. On the podcast, Rob discusses: How his commercial revenue target has increased by 750% The club's investment into Big Data and understanding its fanbase better How his team is approaching selling its sleeve sponsorship, a new piece of Premier League inventory Why a new stadium will be a commercial game-changer for the club How Bournemouth is positioning itself to attract more multi-national companies as sponsors Why a new website will be a key piece of additional sponsor inventory going forward.

Ben Morel, SVP at the National Basketball Association and Managing Director for operations across EMEA, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly.Ben originally joined the NBA from cosmetics giant L'Oréal in 1998, and nearly 20 years later he’s still going strong, overseeing the basketball league’s media distribution, events, merchandising and sponsorship activities this side of the Atlantic. On the podcast, Ben discusses: How UK interest in the NBA has undergone huge growth over the last 12 months Why having more games in London isn't integral for further growth in Europe Initiatives to turn casual basketball observers into active, loyal consumers The significant investment being made into grassroots that doesn't make headlines Why he hopes the battle for control in European club basketball reaches an amicable resolution, and soon Why Virtual Reality could be a game-changer in how basketball is consumed at home and on the move.

Leading football lawyer Daniel Geey is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Currently a partner at sports and media law firm Sheridans, Daniel was involved in the recent American takeover of Swansea City, and is currently preparing for a busy winter football transfer window, opening after the Christmas break. On the podcast, Daniel discusses: Working with and advising young footballing talent What's underpinning the recent wave of Premier League club investment The huge challenge illegal streaming presents to large rights-holders How all sports stakeholders need to pay serious attention to data security The potential impact of Brexit and Trump on the football industry.

Elliot Richardson, ‎President and Co-Founder of digital football platform Dugout, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Launched officially at the end of November - following months of industry hype - Dugout publishes exclusive content featuring some of Europe’s biggest clubs and footballers, and is touted as a way for those same clubs and players to both grow their fanbases, and better monetise their digital footprints. To date, Dugout boasts an enviable portfolio of partners that includes Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester City, Gareth Bale and Neymar, with more announced on an almost weekly basis. On the podcast, Elliot explains: Why Dugout isn't a Facebook for Football - despite media descriptions How football fandom forms in a different way compared to decades ago How both the platform and clubs benefit from data insight around content What content works best, and how that's judged Why he believes Dugout will succeed where other digital projects in the past have failed What the sports industry can learn from his background in the insurance sector.

Matt Stevenson, ‎Head of Sports Sponsorship at mobile operator EE, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. EE has over 27 million customers in the UK, making it the region’s biggest mobile network, and last year it was acquired by BT for £12.5 billion, creating a formidable new telecoms giant for the UK market. In a career that’s included stints at Nike and O2, Matt has over 20 years of brand and communications experience - most of which has been dedicated to sponsorship and partnership activations - and at EE he leads the company’s sports sponsorship portfolio which includes Wembley Stadium, for which EE is the lead partner. On the podcast, Matt explains the importance of using EE's sponsorship portfolio to improve the fan and customer experience; how EE and Wembley have built a strong rights-holder/brand partnership; why social media influencers are becoming more and more powerful, and useful to brands; and the reason EE isn't ready to move into e-sports...quite yet.

BBC News Sports Editor Dan Roan is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. A familiar face and voice to sports fans across the world, Dan covers a wide range of sports news and business stories for the public-service broadcaster's TV, radio and online platforms, which include the One, Six and 10 O'Clock News; Radio 4's Today programme, 5 Live and the BBC News Channel. Dan’s been at the BBC on and off since 1998, when he first joined as a trainee, and over that period he’s secured exclusive interviews with the likes of Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, Sepp Blatter, Bernie Ecclestone and Thomas Bach, the latter of whom he quizzed recently on the topic of doping, and Russia’s participation in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. On the podcast, Dan explains how he has landed some of the sport business' biggest exclusives during a tumultuous two years for sports news, how he builds rapports with senior sports executives, and how he approaches the sometimes fractious relationship between journalism and PR.

Scott Bowers, Director of Communications at The Jockey Club, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. The Jockey Club is the largest commercial group in British horseracing, owning and running 15 of the UK’s leading racecourses including Cheltenham, Aintree and Epsom Downs. Scott’s been there for nearly seven years now, and was last month inducted into the Leaders Under 40 Class of 2016 in recognition of his contribution to record racecourse attendances and revenues. Previous to the Jockey Club Scott was Head of Sport at PR firm Weber Shandwick, where he worked on several international award-winning campaigns, including Sochi's successful bid to host the 2014 Olympic Games. On the podcast, Scott discusses the importance of external and internal communications for the long-term health of a major sports organisation, the importance of transparency and maintaining healthy relationships with the media, and why he believes sports organisations need to better understand the crossover between their communications and marketing functions.

Roger Mitchell, the former Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. An accountant by trade, Roger has held a number of senior roles in a number of sectors, but rose to prominence in the sports industry when he left his job as CFO of EMI Music in Italy to become the inaugural CEO of the SPL in 1998. He spent four-and-a-half years there and was responsible for all administrative, organisational and football issues. He also became a Member of UEFA’s Professional Football Committee. Today, Roger spends his time advising a variety of sport businesses, investing in tech and media start-ups, and is the Chairman of publisher GiveMeSport, a go-to destination for sports news, opinion and features. On the podcast, Roger talks about why GiveMeSport's raison d'être has changed over the years; how start-ups go bad; why the club football elite is only going to get stronger - and at the expense of numerous former club giants; his future ambitions; and how he sees the sports digital landscape evolving.

Paul Blanchard, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games England, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Paul’s a well-known figure in the UK sports industry and in a long and distinguished sports industry career has been, to name only a few of his positions: Marketing Manager of Ladbrokes; Marketing Director of the Scottish Premier League; Head of Sales and Marketing at Southampton Football Club; Chief Executive of Harlequins Rugby League; and Sales and Marketing Director at Surrey County Cricket Club. Paul joined Commonwealth Games England in the summer last year, and is charged with strengthening the governing body’s commercial operation while also ensuring English athletes are given the best possible support in the build-up to the Gold Coast Games in 2018. On the podcast, hear Paul talk about the new commercial strategy he's drawn up for the body, the reaction from brands, what CGE will be looking for in a 2026 preferred bidding city and the highlights of his 25+ years in the sports industry.

James Grigg, Director of International Operations at Turner Sports-owned digital media company Bleacher Report, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. James joined Bleacher a year ago having previously been COO of fanatix, the sports video clip-sharing platform, and Distribution Director of Sportech, the pool betting operator and technology supplier.Bleacher Report currently reaches more than 400 million people globally - 80% of which are under the age of 34.On the podcast, hear James talk about Bleacher Report's strategy on Snapchat Discover and Facebook Live, new ways of monetising content on third-party media platforms, and frustrations around not having universal measurements of engagement around digital content.

Rob Mills, CEO of Gemba, the agency providing insight, strategy and communications services to brands and rights-holders operating in the sports and entertainment sectors is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. It was in adidas' Australia office where Rob cut his teeth in sports marketing, and in a decade’s stint he climbed the ranks to reach marketing director, a position in which he was responsible for the sportswear giant’s brand, communications and distribution strategy. He was also part of the adidas Global Olympic Strategy team. Rob left in 2001 to start his own agency, Prisma, which became Gemba in 2006 following its merger with Crowe Lovett. In this week's episode, hear Rob discuss: The importance of approaching the sport and entertainment sectors together, not separately Using data and insight to help build strong and effective brand campaigns How and why Gemba is ramping up its operations in China The thinking process behind leaving adidas to go out on his own Taking the risky decision to drop the Australian Olympic team ahead of Sydney 2000 Why the sports industry needs to get better at, and be more open to, recognising transferable skills.

James McLaughlin, the agent of cricketer Jonathan Trott and commercial brains behind new football agency 73 Management, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. James has held a number of senior roles in sport since the '90s, first as Head of Sales at Southampton Football Club. He followed that with a stint at Nike and two lengthy periods as Commercial Director of both Watford Football Club and Warwickshire County Cricket Club. In 2012 he was asked by then World Cricketer of the Year Trott to become his agent and, this August, launched 73 - which describes itself as “a new football management service - designed by footballers, for footballers” - alongside former Southampton players Matt Le Tissier and Francis Benali. In this week's episode, hear James discuss: Why 73 is focusing on managing a footballer's career, rather than simply commercial exploitation Jonathan Trott's recent autobiography - and why now was the right time to release it The challenge he faced in 2013 being in the UK when Trott returned home from the Ashes in Australia Signing Jaguar as the £30m hospitality naming rights partner of Edgbaston - the proudest commercial deal of his career How cricketers tend to understand the value of commercial partnerships more than footballers Why football clubs could, and should, look more long-term in their sponsorship selection.

Jackie Fast, Founder and Managing Director of strategic sales agency Slingshot Sponsorship, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Slingshot cuts across all entertainment industries and creates - in its own words - “a strategic commercial framework that helps the world’s leading brands take their investment beyond eyeballs and awareness”. Since its foundation in 2010 Slingshot has worked with high-profile clients including Red Bull, Nationwide and the Mayor of London and Jackie herself has won a number of accolades recognising her entrepreneurial and industry work. In this week's episode, hear Jackie discuss: Why she set up Slingshot in 2010, following the global recession What it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated sports industry How sports rights-holders need to be more open to creating partnerships - rather than dressing up sponsorships as partnerships The secret to being a good salesperson Why she struggled to find a vocation in life before working in sponsorship The opportunities presented by better understanding purchase behaviour.

Murray Barnett, Head of Broadcast, Commercial and Marketing at World Rugby, the global governing body for rugby union, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Murray’s background is in TV. He first cut his teeth in the sports industry at the NBA, where he was International TV Coordinator, before going on to spend over a decade at sports broadcast giant ESPN, eventually heading Sports Channels and Syndication across EMEA.Murray joined World Rugby in 2013, and in his current position is responsible for driving forward and delivering the organisation’s broadcast, marketing and digital media strategies. You can hear Murray discuss: The global growth strategy for rugby union Why World Rugby is an unashamed money-making organisation Managing the balance between cash and exposure in broadcast deals Why the pace of change in sports broadcasting isn't as fast as many make out The conscious decision not to take money from betting companies Why All Black dominance has a downside when looking to grow the sport globally Why Virtual Reality won't transform the live experience anytime soon.

Charlie McEwen, Chief Operating Officer of one of world sport’s most celebrated international teams, the British & Irish Lions, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Charlie has a long and distinguished career in rugby, previously working on both the brand and rights-holder side in senior positions at agencies Octagon and Essentially. He joined the Lions in 2010 as Director of Sales and Marketing and was promoted to COO a year ago, a position in which he is currently planning for the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017. You can hear Charlie talk about... ...the Lions brand"It stands for the best of best. That means from the playing side to administration we either do it well, or we don't do it at all."...signing Lions partners"The challenge isn't generating interest, it's making sure we hit the right level from a financial perspective." ...new kit supplier Canterbury"The success we've seen to date is exceptional because they really understand the opportunity. They're really going to bask in the glory of a Lions tour." ...the commercial health of rugby in 2016"More fans are coming to games, more people are playing, there's a huge appetite corporately and from broadcasters...rugby's in a good place." ...building a narrative around a quadrennial event"We're a bright star that shines for a very short time...if we tried to extend it too far, fans would be exhausted when the main event comes around." ...second-screening"There's a place for it, but ultimately people are diving into second-screening because they're not immersed in what's going on on the pitch." ...playing a Lions in a new country en route to New Zealand next year"We had 13 different locations pitch for the opportunity...but to be best prepared to win we need to get to New Zealand as soon as possible."

Barry Hearn, founder of Matchroom Sport, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. As a sports promoter Barry’s been a prominent figure on the UK sporting scene for a number of decades, first with snooker in the 1970s, then with boxing in the 1980s followed by darts in the 1990s. He was also chairman of Leyton Orient football club from 1995 to 2014. Though his son Eddie now manages Matchroom’s interests in boxing, Barry’s still very much involved in snooker - as the owner of World Snooker, the world governing body’s commercial arm - and darts, as chairman of the PDC, the Professional Darts Corporation. You can hear Barry talk about such things as... ...the secrets of his success"I'm tough to beat on work ethic. I like to win and I know most of my opposition won't make the same amount of effort." ...his public perception"Behind the barrow boy is a chartered accountant - I'm a freak with figures and live for balance sheets." ...running Matchroom"At the moment my word still counts for something. But I'm sure it will start to count less and less." ...sitting at the negotiation table"It's like being with your dentist: you grab his testicles and say, 'Neither of us are going to hurt each other, are we?'" ...his foray into football"I like to think I'm this tough guy, but I must have a soft centre...my heart and my wallet merged together" ...the secrets to promoting a sports event"It's so easy; it's pure common sense...but you'd be surprised by how many get it wrong." ...sports industry snobbery"People look at me, thinking, 'Darts? Those fat blokes throwing those things? It's not like that down my rugby club'. It really pisses me off." ...selling Matchroom"Many want to buy it, but I'd never sell it. If I did, what would I do? Could you see me as a PLC chairman? Come on."

Joel Seymour-Hyde, Senior Vice-President at Octagon, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Octagon is the global sports, entertainment, lifestyle marketing and talent agency of the Interpublic Group, and works with hundreds of blue-chip corporate clients, more than 800 athletes and personalities and manages more than 13,000 events per year. Joel works predominantly with sponsor brands and lead’s Octagon’s strategy and insight division for Europe, the Middle East and India. He has nearly 15 years experience in sports marketing, having previously worked at WPP-owned media agency MediaCom. In this week's episode, hear Joel discuss: What makes a good sports sponsorship How despite the hype around digital and social media, why old media is still vital to a successful brand activation The challenge for rights-holders to carve out inventory for media-hungry sponsors without encroaching on broadcaster territory Octagon's planning and creative set-up - and why he thinks it gives Octagon the edge over rivals Why sponsors of British Olympic NGBs have missed a trick in their activations around Rio The rationale behind Octagon's brand refresh and relaunch next month Why it shouldn't always be the job of a sponsor to be the moral arbiter.

Tom Gorringe, Head of Marketing at Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Following stints at Portsmouth and Cardiff City, Tom has been at Brighton for over two years now, a position in which he heads the Championship club's sales strategy across ticketing, commercial, retail and non-matchday events.However, a rising star in the sports industry, he's still only 27, and over the last 12 months has been part of Sport Industry NextGen, in partnership with Barclays, the initiative created to identify and nurture the leading sports executives of the future. In this week's episode, hear Tom discuss: The secrets of success to building a career in football from an early age Benefits of taking part in the inaugural Sport Industry NextGen The major marketing strategies Brighton has rolled out recently - and why How investing in the matchday experience is at the very core of Brighton and its relationship with fans Some exciting plans to introduce virtual reality to the Amex Stadium Why Brighton dedicates large amounts of resource to understanding data, and case studies of best practice from last season.

Richard Berry, Head of Commercial at the Williams Martini Formula One Racing team, is the feature interview on this week's SB Weekly. Richard is one the most experienced commercial brains in F1, having had - in addition to Williams - stints in the commercial departments at Honda, Brawn and Mercedes. He’s also turned his hand in the business of football, as Head of Partnership Sales at Manchester City and Chief Commercial Officer of Rangers. He joined Williams in April 2015 after a short period at the Premier League assisting with the search for new commercial partnerships. In this week's episode, hear Richard discuss: Why brands sponsor F1 teams, and how the sport is successfully opening up more to B2C sponsors Work Williams is doing to better understand its following, and how it's going about building its fanbase both online and offline How Abu Dhabi connections saw him move to Manchester City as Head of Partnership Sales, where he helped build the commercial plan for global football domination The new ideas he brought back into F1 following his stint working in football What football rights-holders can learn from the commercial approach in F1 The challenge F1 faces keeping the sport's fanbase engaged as the media landscape continues to fracture.

Adrian Bevington, a familiar name to anyone working in the UK football business, is the featured interview on this week's SB Weekly. Adrian was Director of Communications at the English Football Association and Managing Director of Club England, the position that oversees the operations of every England football team. In the latter, he oversaw the management and operational support services of all England teams, and helped develop the female game, bringing an England women's match to the new Wembley for the first time in November 2014.Adrian left the FA two years ago and now runs his own wide-ranging sports consultancy, spending this summer at the Euros working as a consultant to the Football Association of Wales. In this week's episode, hear Adrian discuss: His work with the Football Association of Wales, a fascinating month in France, and why he was impressed with Chris Coleman's leadership style Why Sam Allardyce is, in his opinion, a good fit for the England job and will bring a refreshing new mindset to the FA set-up The challenges running English football clubs, seen first hand through his consultancy work with Watford, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa His views on Tracey Crouch's recent criticism of the FA and its need to reform A burning desire to turn his hand to club football full-time as a CEO The huge opportunity presented by the growth of football in China and India.

Jim Chaplin, Managing Director of SRi, the international recruitment firm that specialises in sports, media and entertainment, is the featured interview on this week's edition of SB Weekly. SRi was founded in 2001 and has been behind a number of high-profile hires in sport, including recent senior roles at Manchester United, Liverpool, beIN Sports, IMG and the ECB. Listen to this week's episode to hear Jim discuss what is encouraging sports organisations to be more sophisticated in their hiring of talent; SRi's move towards helping clients recruit performance staff, as well as industry executives; the fascinating - and sometimes incredibly backward - ways football club owners hire managers; the merging of the sports, media and entertainment industries when it comes to recruiting talent; big shifts away from sport, particularly in the UK, being "pale, male and stale"; and why understanding the digital landscape, and how to engage with customers, are two skills in huge demand by hiring sports organisations.

Drew Barrand, Marketing Director of the English Football League (EFL), is a featured interview on this week's SB Weekly. The EFL is the world’s oldest and original league football competition and currently comprises the 72 teams playing in the English Championship, League One and League Two. Drew became Marketing Director in 2014 following stints at Pitch PR and Benchmark Sport, and originally started his career as a journalist specialising in sports marketing. In the podcast Drew discusses why the Football League needed to be re-branded to the EFL, and what the re-branding exercise showed about your average rights-holder's inability to effectively market itself; how the rebrand can help boost revenues for the 72 clubs, and where huge opportunities lie outside the UK; what impact the EFL's new digital partners Realise and NeuLion will have; getting long-term buy-in in a traditionally short-term, sales-focused football industry; the challenges of getting cut-through in the saturated sports and entertainment market; and why the sports industry needs to be more honest about how slowly it is developing.

Graham Fry, Worldwide Managing Director for Production at sports agency giant IMG, is the featured interview on this week's edition of SB Weekly. IMG is the UK’s largest independent TV producer, and is perhaps best known in sporting circles for running the English Premier League Channel, which delivers an all-year-round, 24-hour-a-day content service to every Premier League rights-holder across the world. Graham has a long and illustrious career in the broadcast industry, having joined BBC Sport in the early 80s before moving on to IMG in 1991 as an executive producer for live golf. He has been at IMG ever since. Listen to this week's episode to hear Graham discuss the growth in size and depth of the Premier League's broadcast coverage, and why IMG plays an important role in the league's strong brand and marketability; why sports production companies' margins are being squeezed - and what IMG is doing to combat that; why virtual reality is a technological development broadcasters and rights-holders need to grasp with both hands; opportunities for IMG's production arm internationally, in Asia and India specifically; the highlights of his career to date; and what broadcast technology trends he believes we should be looking out for.

Jim Dowling, Managing Director of HSE Cake, is the featured interview on this week's edition of SB Weekly. HSE Cake is a brand engagement and entertainment agency based in London that works with a number of high-profile sports sponsors including Barclays, EE and Coca-Cola. It was created last year when Havas Sports & Entertainment and Cake - sister agencies within the Havas group - joined forces to work as one combined unit. Listen to this week's episode to hear Jim discuss bringing best practice from music and entertainment into sport; how analytics are helping sponsors make better investment decision; why labeling people as 'creative' can be dangerous; his most memorable brand campaigns, including Pokémon and EE; keeping on top of the rapidly-changing social and digital media landscape; and the continuing shift of sponsors and advertisers into content-creators.

Antony Marcou is CEO of Sports Revolution, the sports media and rights agency that works with teams and leagues to boost revenues across their commercial portfolio. It also works with sponsors to maximise the impact of their partnerships in sport Antony has worked in the area of media strategy for about two decades, and has been CEO of Sports Revolution since 2010. Download the podcast to hear Antony discuss why major European football teams could shun shirt sponsors this season; bringing tried and tested marketing methods from outside sport, into sport; how senior commercial roles are merging at major rights-holders; and what the sports industry Ubers and Airbnbs could be in the future.

Richard Gillis, founder of Unofficial Partner, is a sports industry commentator who, as a journalist, has taken a sideways look at the business of sport for around 20 years. Richard’s writing portfolio includes the likes of the Wall Street Journal, The Observer and the Financial Times, and he is a former editor of SportBusiness International magazine. He is also about to release his first book, The Captain Myth: The Ryder Cup and Sport’s Great Leadership Delusion. Download the podcast to hear Richard talk about the leadership myth - and what it tells us about how fans view sport; what sports brands and rights-holders can do to tell better stories; turning his blog, Unofficial Partner, into a brand consultancy; and why sports marketing needs to be more nuanced.  

E-sports - the hottest topic of the last 12 months - represent huge growth potential for operators in various areas of the sports industry, but need to be approached in a different way. That was the message from David Lampitt, Managing Director for Group Operations at Sportradar, on the SB Weekly podcast this week. In addition to Sportradar's activities in the e-sports space, in this week's episode Lampitt discusses growth opportunities for Sportradar and reflects on his career in football - which has included stints at the English Football Association and as Chief Executive of Portsmouth FC.

Jamie Aitchison is commercial and development director at creative agency Aurora Media Worldwide and the former sports editor of Channel 4, where he played a key role in the UK commercial broadcaster’s BAFTA-winning coverage of the 2012 London Paralympic Games. In this episode, Jamie Download the podcast to hear Jamie discuss why risk-taking is so important when trying to make breakthrough TV, the new technology having the biggest impact on sports broadcasting, why he left Channel 4 in 2014 and which major sports industry trends he's following at the moment.

Matt Rogan is co-founder of sports marketing agency Two Circles and now an executive director of ESP Properties, the sports rights-holder-facing subsidiary of WPP. Two Circles has undergone huge growth since being founded in 2011 – winning agency of year at the 2014 Sport Industry Awards – and this time last year it was acquired by WPP and folded into ESP Properties. In part two of this week's double episode, Matt outlines the ambitions for ESP Properties, how he built his career in sport - including a period working for MTV - why he thinks the sports industry needs to encourage greater diversity and which major sports industry trends he's following at the moment.

Matt Rogan is co-founder of sports marketing agency Two Circles and now an executive director of ESP Properties, the sports rights-holder-facing subsidiary of WPP. Two Circles has undergone huge growth since being founded in 2011 – winning agency of year at the 2014 Sport Industry Awards – and this time last year it was acquired by WPP and folded into ESP Properties. In part one of this week's double episode, Matt explains why he created Two Circles - to create a “new kind of sports marketing agency” - how he breeds a culture of innovation and thinking outside the box in his company, how much rights-holders in the sports industry are using data to drive commercial decision-making and why he sold a majority stake in Two Circles to WPP this time last year.

Aidan Cooney is the CEO of InCrowd Sports - a company looking to transform the in-stadia experience for fans, clubs and sponsors - and a man perhaps best known for building Opta into the world's leading sports data provider. In this episode, Aidan explains the need for sports teams to invest in digital platforms that help them engage with their fans when attending live event, and what commercial opportunities can be opened through that. He also reflects on approaches to building start-up companies, why he sold Opta in 2013 and the reasons sports performance data finally became mainstream in the UK.

Sophie Goldschmidt is the new Group Managing Director at CSM Sport & Entertainment, the agency made up of a number of leading sports businesses including Essentially, Fast Track and JMI. She joined CSM at the start of the year, moving from the English RFU where she was Chief Commercial Officer for just under five years. In this episode, Sophie outlines the growth strategy for CSM, the business strengths of new boss Seb Coe, CSM Chairman, what industry trends she is keeping a close eye on and reflects on the highs and lows of a career working in senior positions at, in addition to CSM and the RFU, the NBA, WTA and adidas.

Brendan Taylor is Senior Vice-President at sports agency Wasserman and its Head of Golf for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Brendan has been working in the sport for over 15 years; for just under 10 of those he was at IMG, where he was Vice-President and Head of Recruitment for Europe, before he was poached by Wasserman in 2008 to join its burgeoning golf division that now represents the likes of Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and Zach Johnson. In this episode, he explains why Wasserman Golf is expanding from athlete representation into other areas of the golf business, the challenges in working closely with the sport's biggest stars, and why he thinks there's still a huge need for the creation of shorter-form events that attract new audiences to golf.

Steve Martin, Global CEO of M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, has more than two decade’s experience advising on - and executing - marketing campaigns for brands, rights-holders and talent from across the sporting landscape. He cut his teeth in the sports industry at adidas, where during the 1990s he rose the ranks in the PR team to eventually reach the position of senior global PR manager before joining M&C Saatchi in 2004. In part two of this interview, he reflects on the most memorable sports marketing campaigns he's worked on, how and why he is taking M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment global and what developing industry trends he's got an eye on going forward.

Steve Martin, Global CEO of M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, has more than two decade’s experience advising on - and executing - marketing campaigns for brands, rights-holders and talent from across the sporting landscape. He cut his teeth in the sports industry at adidas, where during the 1990s he rose the ranks in the PR team to eventually reach the position of senior global PR manager before joining M&C Saatchi in 2004. In part one of this interview, he discusses the best way to approach creativity, what makes a good sports marketing campaign and signing David Beckham to adidas in the mid-1990s.

Gareth Capon is CEO of Grabyo - the company that identifies itself as the “leader in real-time video” - and the man who formerly led strategy and product development for BSkyB's mobile app portfolio. He has also previously worked at Sony Music, BT and management consultancy Accenture. In this episode, he reflects on the dramatic shift in media consumption towards mobile, and what opportunities it brings to sports rights-holders, broadcasters and publishers.

Mike Lee, founder and chairman of strategic communications company VERO, is a man who has helped mastermind a number of bidding campaigns across the sporting landscape including London 2012 and most recently the FIFA presidential campaign of Gianni Infantino. He reflects on how telling the narrative of bid for a sports event or presidential position has changed over the last decade, the negative reputation bidding has in the wider public and his career working with several major governing bodies including the English Premier League and UEFA.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club's commercial director Gareth Roberts talked to SB Weekly about how the Twenty20 rebrand to the Birmingham Bears has helped drive "significant" increases in revenue. He also discusses how Edgbaston has evolved from a cricket stadium into an all-round leisure venue, reflects on his time at beer giant Carlsberg -  where he was director of UK sponsorship for eight years - and the evolution of sports sponsorship over the last two decades.

Sports industry commentator and Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper spoke to SB Weekly about how moving from country to country when he was growing up gave him a different viewpoint on sport, and how he approaches his writing on sport. Drawing on themes from his best-selling book Soccernomics, he also discusses the myth of the manager, and the growing impact of statistics in sport.

Ben Blanco, UK Head of Sport and Entertainment Marketing at Samsung, spoke to SB Weekly about how the electronics giant judges success in a sports sponsorship deal, how and why the School of Rugby marketing campaign with comedian Jack Whitehall and the England rugby union team became such a hit and how he went from a runner on the Harry Potter film series to one of sport's leading sponsor brands.

The SB Weekly podcast this week is an FA special: a double interview with two former senior sports executives from English football's governing body. Peter Daire (Group Head of Sponsorship, 2007-2014) discusses the ins and outs of setting up your own business, how generating value in sports sponsorship has evolved in the last decade and why too many rights-holders don't think enough like the brands. Jimmy Worrall (Head of Business Development, 1999-2001) talks about how and why he moved from selling pharmaceuticals into sport, why he turned his back on a career as a football agent and how he built Leaders into a must-attend event in less than a decade.

Riccardo Silva, founder of the MP & Silva agency and co-owner of new NASL team Miami FC, told the SB Weekly podcast why his proposed Americas Champions League (ACL) is the "biggest project in the world of football (soccer) in the last 20 years and the next 20 years". He also discussed the reasons for him launching Miami FC, the secrets of MP & Silva's success and who he'd like to play him in a movie of his life.

Matt Cutler explains why he is launching this new podcast for the business of sport