Goodform, adiposity a CRM Agency which helps sports organisations maximise the value of their data, symptoms | have announced the appointment of Michael Jones, who will fill the newly created role of CRM Services Director.

Michael comes to Goodform with an impressive background in the football industry, having operated across Premiership, Championship and League One clubs.  Within these hugely varied environments, Michael has experienced success, both commercially and operationally, particularly in the areas of retail, ticketing and CRM.

Michael spent 16 years working for Watford FC where he rose from Head of Ticketing to Head of Business, taking strategic leadership of all senior managers across the commercial and operational business functions, including Ticketing, Retail and CRM.  During his time at Vicarage Road he implemented sales growth, data management, CRM integrations and transformed retail and catering areas along with managing the corporate delivery.

Prior to joining Goodform Michael undertook a 6 month consultancy project with Sheffield United FC where he developed a cross departmental five year plan and adapted systems and processes to ensure that data analysis and usage supported the club’s commercial growth objective alongside the customers’ needs.

Michael is joining Goodform, the UK’s leading sports CRM agencies, at an important and exciting time for the company.  Having recently passed its 10 year anniversary, Goodform is entering a period of extensive growth and will benefit greatly from Michael’s commercial experience, understanding of the importance of customer service, and his staff management skills as we continue to grow our business and our team.

Alison Dalrymple, Managing Director of Goodform, said: “We are delighted to welcome Michael to Goodform as we continue to expand the company and our client base. The wealth of commercial acumen and insight that Michael brings from his successful career in the football industry, coupled with his passion and knowledge of CRM in the sports world, will continue to ensure that our clients receive the highest level of service and support.”

Commenting on his new role, Michael, said, “I’m very happy to be taking on this new challenge at such an exciting time for Goodform. Having worked within the sports industry for many years I’ve experienced first-hand the importance of embedding the core principles of CRM to grow business profitability whilst driving the engagement satisfaction of customers. I look forward to working closely with our many clients and hope to be able to bring the relevant experience to enable Goodform to build on its excellent reputation of first class delivery.”

Over the past ten years Goodform has worked with many football clubs on their CRM, ticketing, membership and marketing activities including Manchester City FC, Swindon Town FC, QPR FC, Everton FC Tottenham Hotspur FC plus many more.

Now in it’s 7th year, site we are delighted to announce that Future Sponsorship will move to Istanbul, physician Turkey, taking place on 28-29 November.

After winning the title of European Capital of Culture 2010, Istanbul has been crowned European Capital of Sport for 2012.

Supported by our host partners, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague Basketball, Future Sponsorship will address the major challenges in the sponsorship world and will gather high level brands, rights holders and agencies to shape the future of the sponsorship industry.

2011 saw over 200 participating companies including; Yingli, Deloitte, Diageo, Randstad Deutschland, FIFA, IEG, ING Group, O2, Coca Cola, Paddy Power, The FA, Cirque Du Soleil, Lloyds Banking Group, IMG, Turkish Airlines, The Premier League, Fulham FC, AVIVA, Lawn Tennis Association, Heineken, Adidas and more.

> View Website
> Request Brochure
> Join our Linked In Group

NEW for 2012

This year we will be revamping the Future Sponsorship programme,introducing new high level, engaging and motivating speakers, as well as including interactive sessions and new networking formats to ensure you get the best value across the two days. Delegates will be able to unwind after the conference in a more informal environment during our networking evening drinks reception on 28th November.

Interested in finding our more?

If you are interested in attending and receiving news about this year’s event early, please register your interest here. This will ensure that you can avail our early bird rates and be kept up to date with all the latest news on the conference.

Your participation and feedback

Would you like to participate in Future Sponsorship 2012, or have any ideas and feedback on what and who you would like to see at the event? Please feel free to get in touch with me at sally.nastys@informasportsgroup.com or visit our website www.future-sponsorship.com

German public service broadcaster ARD and premium sports portal SPOX.com have agreed to broadcast all preliminary round fixtures of the EuroBasket 2013.

ARD will show three Germany games in the tournament and premium sports portal SPOX.com will complement the coverage by showing two further games.

Germany have been drawn in Group A against France, Belgium, Ukraine, Great Britain and Israel.

ARD will broadcast additional games of the German team depending on their qualification to the second stage, while SPOX.com’s comprehensive coverage includes one live top game per day for the entire tournament as well as daily video highlights and interviews.

EuroBasket 2013 will be staged in Slovenia from 4-22 September.

West Ham United’s potential Olympic Stadium move will be consulted by fans following an emergency meeting of their Supporter Advisory Board (SAB) on Tuesday.

The club were recently named as the No.1 choice to move into the £429m venue and they will now give their fans the chance to air their views.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) made the announcement last week, although there are a number of loose ends to sort out before the deal is finally completed.

The SAB will discuss the LLDC’s decision at Tuesday’s emergency meeting which will be attended by vice-chairman Karren Brady, joint-chairman David Gold and ex-West Ham striker Tony Cottee.

A statement on the club’s official website reads: “The LLDC decision represents a huge step forward but, as the club has stated throughout, highest-ranked bidder status does not mean that West Ham have at this stage agreed to the move and it remains the case that we will only do so if the final proposal is right for the club and its supporters.

“The time for supporters to have their voices heard is now and a more intensive consultation process will commence on Tuesday evening.

“The club will consult with SAB members to agree how the club takes that consultation process forward.

“The club stands by its commitment to conduct full supporter consultation regarding the proposed move, including the polling of supporters.

“West Ham fans can be confident that wherever there is an opportunity for West Ham to input in the decisions going forward, supporters will be at the forefront.”

English fourth-tier soccer side, Southend FC have revealed today that their chief executive Gary Lockett has resigned with immediate effect but will remain as a non-executive director.

Lockett only took the position with the League Two club on March 1 but he admits he has struggled to balance the demands of the job with his own business interests.

Lockett told Southend’s official website: “The role is more demanding than I first appreciated and I have had to juggle my other responsibilities.

“The chairman, quite rightly, is very ambitious for the club’s success, as I am. And although Ron (Martin) originally described the role as 24/7 I perhaps did not appreciate that that is precisely what is required, and to balance my other business interests and meet the club’s needs also is simply not practical.

“Nevertheless the chairman has invited me to remain as a non-executive director which I am very happy to do and look forward to helping him and the rest of the board advance the club, including its move to the new stadium.”

Lockett took over from Tara Brady following his resignation earlier this year and Southend have now started their search for a third chief exec in the space of eight months.

Leeds based PR, health sports sponsorship and events agency, Hatch Communications, has been appointed by Triathlon England, the National Governing Body in England to promote their Triathlon England – National Championship events in one of the most exciting years in the history of the sport.

The Hatch team has won a competitive pitch, tasked with raising Triathlon England’s profile around the Triathlon England – National Championship events, whilst capitalising on the growth of the sport.

The brief will see the sports specialist agency raise awareness of Triathlon England as an aspirational leader in the sport, whilst also delivering the message that triathlon is accessible for all through the series of targeted events.

The Triathlon England – National  Championship events provide all ranges of age and ability the chance to race in a triathlon whilst crowing the winners: ‘England Champions’, a prestigious title to receive in a year highlighted by sporting achievement.

Tom Goldspink, communications manager at British Triathlon, said: “We are looking forward to working with Hatch Communications, who impressed us with their creativity, enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport.  Triathlon is a fast growing, modern and dynamic sport and we are keen to raise the profile of Triathlon England and the opportunities available to take part in the sport.”

Hatch Communications managing director, Jason Madeley, added: “It is fantastic to be chosen to work with such a well respected organisation. Triathlon has been a sport of interest within our organisation, so it’s great to be able to put our passions to the test in what is a very exciting year for sport.”

Malaysian based sports marketing company Total Sports Asia (TSA) has brokered a deal with MediaPro, buy the Spanish distributor and production company representing FC Barcelona for their Official Club Channel, health Barca TV.

TSA will be the exclusive distributor in the Asia Pacific region for the current La Liga Champions. Barca TV produces two weekly programming blocks of three hours for the international market.

Content on Barca TV includes full delayed coverage of all of FC Barcelona’s matches played in La Liga, Copa Del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, together with exclusive reports, interviews and other exclusive, behind the scenes footage from the club.

Julian Jackson, TSA’s Chief Content Officer, said: ”TSA are honoured to be working with such an icon in world sports as FC Barcelona. We are really excited to be able to bring global superstars Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas and Pique to Asia Pacific living rooms, not only for all of the games they play but also to see what they are like off the pitch. Broadcasters will get the chance to be associated with the most attractive to watch side in world football.”

The Football Association have suggested they will support a move by David Benstein to stay as chairman even beyond the age-limit which stands at 70.

Bernstein turns 70 next May and the FA board have agreed to support a move for him to at least stay on for an extra year until after the 2014 World Cup. 

That however would require an agreement from the FA shareholders to change the statutes.

A proposal is expected to go forward to allow the chairman to stay beyond the age of 70 but only if they were 69 or under when their final three-year term of office started.

It is understood Bernstein does not have any ambition to go on to stand for a FIFA or UEFA position afterwards.

He will campaign for David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive who is also an FA board member, when he stands for election to UEFA’s executive committee next May.

The FA are well aware that Gill’s senior position with the most famous club in the world could be a factor for some of the officials from UEFA’s 53 member countries who will vote, and Gill and the FA will aim to tackle that issue during the campaign.

Now in it’s 7^th year, the all new Future Sponsorship 2012 will move to Istanbul, the European Capital of Sport for 2012.    

Supported by host partners, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague Basketball, Future Sponsorship will address the major challenges in the sponsorship world and will gather high level brands, rights holders and agencies to shape the future of the sponsorship industry.

“Euroleague Basketball and Turkish Airlines are delighted to support Future Sponsorship as it’s the perfect place to share experiences and learn from each other in a time of economic challenges. Our current economic climate has made it essential for the sport industry to come together and ask itself questions in regards to its product offering. We believe the time is right to put our social value at the center of our business.” commented Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball CEO and President.

Turkish Airlines’ CEO, Temel Kotil, Ph.D. commented; “Turkish Airlines is proud to be hosting the conference of Future Sponsorship together with our partner Euroleague Basketball here in Istanbul. We offer a warm welcome to all participants and companies.”

“More than ever, we believe that good business can be GOOD business. We are thankful that Future Sponsorship is committed to be part of this message“

Future Sponsorship is the leading European sponsorship conference, established in the sports calendar.  2011’s event saw over 200 participating companies including; Yingli Green Energy Europe, Deloitte, Diageo, Randstad Deutschland, FIFA, IEG, ING Group, O2, Paddy Power, The FA, Cirque Du Soleil, Lloyds Banking Group, IMG, Turkish Airlines, Euroleague Basketball, The Premier League, Fulham FC, AVIVA, Lawn Tennis Association, Heineken, Adidas and more.

“We are delighted to have Turkish Airlines and Euroleague supporting Future Sponsorship for this year.  Istanbul is attracting more and more sports events and has a rapidly increasing sport sponsorship market.” commented Sally Nastys, Conference Director for Informa Sports Group. “It will be a fantastic location to host this year’s leading sponsorship conference and we look forward to working closely with our partners.”

New features are being added to the event for 2012 including high level, engaging and motivating speakers presenting within the programme, as well as interactive sessions and new networking formats to ensure participants get the best value across the two days.

Future Sponsorship will take place on 28-29 November.  Please visit www.future-sponsorship.com for further information.