Lucien Boyer, unhealthy President and CEO at Havas Sports & Entertainment, ailment has taken part in an exclusive Featured Profile interview with iSportconnect.

Boyer spoke of the experience he gained at ESSEC Business School and how he was somewhat of a ‘pioneer’ during his education. He stated : “Ten years later (after graduating) when ESSEC realized that sports business or communications/marketing through sport was a real business that could be taught, they came to me for ideas and feedback on their project to start the Sports Marketing chair which exists today.”

Mr Boyer went on to add how his skills in a variety of industry sectors including marketing, communications and sponsorship had helped him to found the Lifestyle Marketing Group (LMG) in 1991. Lucien claimed : “My time with the America’s Cup and Formula 1 allowed me to get hands on experience and really showed me how sponsorship can shape a brand’s messaging and can be an integral part of any event or company strategy.” He added that major events such as the Olympics in 1992 showed brands that they needed agencies to guide them, saying: “Really our business’ growth, particularly in France and Europe, has been anchored in major events- ’92 was the start, ’98 was the confirmation, then followed by the Track World Championships in 2003, and finally the Rugby World Cup in 2007.”

Speaking of Havas Sports & Entertainment’s (HS&E) backing of the Annecy 2018 Winter Games bid, Boyer confirmed: “Since the change of management in early 2011, we were asked to get more involved both by working within a broader scope and by participating at the international level,” adding “Havas Sports & Entertainment is currently committing all the necessary resources in France and internationally, through our network, to help bring the Annecy bid back as a real contender, fully prepared and reaching out to the right stakeholders and influencers.”

When asked as to the importance of HS&E launching its new office in Rio, Brazil, last year he added: “It is clear that the Brazilian market is growing in every sense of the word. Major sporting events, concerts, festivals and international celebrations are coming to this country at an accelerated rate.” Boyer feels that through opening its office in Rio, HS&E has positioned itself to “continue delivering strong, creative ideas to brands and federations looking to stand out in Brazil, and connect with consumers around these big events.”

Boyer admitted that branching into these emerging markets is crucial and added: “It’s clear that our specialist network still has some gaps to fill- as you mentioned, the Middle East is a key target for us, looking towards Qatar 2022, and more immediately as well to service clients in this region where sports business and entertainment is booming. We look to move into these markets within the coming years.”

Lucien confirmed that working with leading global brands such as Coca-Cola and Yahoo! is ‘a key component’ to HS&E’s global success. When it comes to the differences between working with brands and sporting organizations, Mr Boyer stated: “Organizations and Federations generally have slightly different goals and objectives than brands,” however he added “Our approach to their needs and campaigns may sometimes be a bit less business-minded, but that has started to change. Federations have begun to organize themselves as brands do, focusing on return on investment just as much as our consumer brand clients.”

When asked as to whether HS&E were keen to support the so-called lesser-known sports, Boyer said: “We all know that some sports are better known, receive greater media coverage and also offer star athletes as assets. Nonetheless, many times, these types of leading sports won’t get the job done for certain brands.” He stressed that smaller sports could be a better fit for a brands DNA, adding: “Lesser-known sports, or other engaging entertainment platforms such as music, art, or cinema, could be the right answer to anchor a communications campaign.”

Boyer had the final word on his association with iSportconnect and the incentives it brings, stating: “Platforms like this for sports industry professionals are a great way to not only stay in touch but also keep up to speed with trends, what everyone’s up to and what’s to come in our profession. Social communities, especially targeted ones such as iSportconnect, have really changed the face of networking. I am delighted to become a part of this community and hope to quickly make some new connections with the professionals on your site.”

About Havas Sports & Entertainment

Havas Sports & Entertainment is Havas Media’s global brand engagement network and operates globally through 25 offices across five continents.

Its 400 professionals connect brands to fans by helping them share who they are in relevant, meaningful and inspiring ways by developing great ideas. This could be in the form of sponsorship, content creation, partnerships, celebrity endorsement… In turn, they help take consumers, turn them into fans and ultimately into true brand loyal advocates – customers. The reason we are successful is because we listen, we empathize, we measure and we analyze the communities that fans belong to, to ensure that what they want and what brands want to offer is aligned. In so doing, we help enhance their passions.

Havas Sports & Entertainment’s international clients include:  Coca-Cola, adidas, Hyundai Kia, Castrol, Louis Vuitton, Orange, Veolia, Yahoo!, Allianz, Mars, Repsol, Areva, BMI, Santander, EDF & EDF Energy, Puig, Motorola, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Reckitt Benckiser and Lloyds Banking Group. Sports organizations include FIFA, the Argentinean Tennis Association, the English Premier League, the International Cricket Council, the 2011 Pan-American Games, the Annecy 2018 Bid Committee, the Ryder Cup 2018 French Bid, and media groups such as Sky TV and Bolloré Media. Havas Sports & Entertainment is the official organizer of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, alongside the City of Barcelona.

Havas Sports & Entertainment incorporates the audio-visual production company Havas Productions (France), the event production company Havas Event (France), as well as brand entertainment pioneers Cake, set-up through offices in the UK and the US.

David Bernstein, the chairman of the Football Association (FA), is firmly against Sepp Blatter extending his spell as FIFA president.

Blatter, whose fourth term as president finishes in 2015, had said in 2011 that he would not run for the presidency again – but has since suggested that he could try to win a fifth term.

“I would not support that [Blatter seeking re-election], but I’m not going to call for resignations,” Bernstein told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s football governance follow-up.

“I stood up strongly last year in terms of the election itself and of proper governance, and I think that’s probably helped because I get a real feel of change and reform is taking place within FIFA.

“I’m genuinely encouraged by what I’ve seen over the past year. There’s a real desire and understanding that change has to take place.”

FIFA earlier today appointed Michael J. Garcia to lead prosecutor to investigate allegations of corruption in world football.

Jeffrey Ajluni has joined the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment, clinic LLC as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer.

Ajluni, capsule 43, clinic will oversee all Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment revenue operations, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales and service and suite sales and service.

He brings a broad and unique perspective to the organization, having spent 21 years in the sports and entertainment industry. Ajluni most recently served as Director of Corporate Partnerships and held positions of Director of Marketing & Business Development and New Partner Development for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he worked from 2000 to 2012. From 2006 through 2008, during his time with the Buccaneers, he worked for Manchester United FC, also owned by the Glazer family. Ajluni has also worked for the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Olympia Entertainment from 1991 through 2000.

“Jeff is a skilled sports partnership executive who brings a broad-based sports sales background to our organization,” said Dennis Mannion, President of Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons. “Being a Detroit native, his knowledge of the local market will be an asset for us along with his proficiency in critical key areas such as consumer engagement and sponsor activation.”

“This addition to our executive staff represents a continuation of the business restructuring taking place at Palace Sports and Entertainment. We are excited about the new executives we have hired over the last four weeks including Lucinda Treat and Charlie Metzger and feel their expertise in the areas of business development and strategy, revenue, and marketing and communications align perfectly with our new vision for the future.”

Ajluni has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University and is a native of Bloomfield Hills, MI. He joins other recent executive additions that include Lucinda Treat, EVP of Business Operations and Strategy and Charlie Metzger, EVP – Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has suspended former President Mohamed Bin Hammam after an audit of their accounts revealed fresh allegations of financial wrongdoing, the body said in a statement.

Bin Hammam, who is fighting a life ban by FIFA for bribery, was suspended for 30 days by the AFC.

The AFC said he had been suspended for “events surrounding the negotiation and execution of certain contracts and with the financial transactions made in and out of AFC bank accounts and his personal account during the tenure of Mr. Bin Hammam’s presidency.”

Bin Hammam of Qatar challenged Sepp Blatter for FIFA presidency last year.

He withdrew his candidacy, and was then provisionally suspended, days before the election over allegations that he had tried to buy the votes of Caribbean officials by handing them $40,000 each in brown envelopes. Bin Hammam was found guilty of breaking seven articles of FIFA’s ethics code, including one on bribery.

Bin Hammam, who has denied any wrongdoing, was banned for life and subsequently lost an appeal at FIFA. He has appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.{jcomments on}

Davos and St. Moritz’s potential bid for the 2022 Winter Games has gathered momentum after they appointed Swiss Olympic official Gian Gilli as Operations Director.

The Associated Press reports Gilli will combine the role with his duties as chef de mission for the Swiss team at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

A formal 2022 Swiss bid still needs approval from the country’s sports federations at a meeting in April.

Residents of the state of Graubunden that includes Davos and St. Moritz are scheduled to vote on the bid in November.

Manchester United has remained the world’s most valuable sports team, according to Forbes.

United were valued at £1.43 billion ($2.22bn) in the latest Forbes top 50, down from £1.65 billion ($2.57bn) in the 2011 list, but were still rated 19% more valuable than their closest rivals, Real Madrid.

Earlier this month, the club applied to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange as the Glazer family seeks to raise $100 million to reduce a debt level that, the application noted, “could adversely affect our financial health and competitive position”.

All 32 NFL franchises made the top 50 list, with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots and Super Bowl champions New York Giants all securing spots in the top ten.

The Forbes top 50 included seven football teams, with Arsenal falling three places to tenth and Barcelona up 18 to eighth.

The Forbes Top Ten:

1 Manchester United – £1.43bn ($2.22bn)
2 Real Madrid – £1.20bn ($1.87bn)
3= NY Yankees – £1.18bn ($1.83bn)
3= Dallas Cowboys – £1.18bn ($1.83bn)
5 Washington Redskins – £1bn ($1.55bn)
6= LA Dodgers – £895m ($1.39bn)
6= NE Patriots – £895m ($1.39bn)
8 Barcelona – £838m ($1.3bn)
9 New York Giants – £831m ($1.29bn)
10 Arsenal – £825m ($1.28bn)

The Chicago Bulls have made changes to their front office to create a new Executive Committee reporting to President & COO Michael Reinsdorf.

The five-member committee includes the creation of two new front-office positions with the team hiring Susan Goodenow as VP/Branding & Communications along with the promotion ofJohn Viola from Senior Dir of Corporate Partnerships to VP/Corporate Sales.

They join Executive VP/Business Operations Steve Schanwald, Senior VP/Financial & LegalIRWIN Mandel and VP/Ticket Sales Keith Brown as members of Reinsdorf’s new Exec Committee.

The move marks the evolution of the team’s front office under Reinsdorf, who was named President in September ’10 by his father and Bulls Chair Jerry Reinsdorf.

“We intend to better utilize all the resources of our franchise to grow the Bulls brand, to deliver more information and entertainment to our fans, to play a larger and more defined philanthropic role in the Chicago community, and to bring more value to our business partners and sponsors,” said Michael Reinsdorf in a statement.

Goodenow comes to the Bulls from the Red Sox, where she worked as Senior VP/Public Affairs & Marketing since ’08. Prior to her stint with the Red Sox, Goodenow worked in PR for MLB from ’06-07 and has also worked for the American Red Cross and was a Senior VP for DC-based Sanderson Strategies Group. She began her job with the Bulls on Jan. 1 and will oversee all branding and communications efforts for the Bulls. She reports to Reinsdorf, while Viola reports to Schanwald.

iSportconnect has announced a partnership with international agency specialising in Sports and Technology Marketing, remedy PR and sponsorship in motorsport, order Sine Qua Non, as it continues to develop its expertise and services in the motorsport industry, and sports business in general, to its fast growing membership.

An agreement has been reached which will see Sine Qua Non International’s Claire Ritchie and Chris Hughes manage iSportconnect’s Sports technology sub-community, as well as contributing to the Motorsport sub community using their expertise in the industry.

Under the terms of the partnership the duo will initiate group discussions, as well as writing expert columns and publishing case studies to both sub-communities. In addition, Sine Qua Non will also work with iSportconnect in future networking events for both the Sports technology and Motorsport industries.

Claire Ritchie is the founder and Managing Director of Sine Qua Non International. Having had extensive experience in sales, marketing and sponsorship at Hewlett Packard and Nortel Networks where she managed the multimillion dollar Formula One partnership with BMW Williams F1, she has used that knowledge to develop partnerships for technology brands in F1, MotoGP and World Rally as well as other sports.

Ritchie said of the link up with iSportconnect: “With our unique focus on technology and sport, we are pleased and ideally placed to manage the Sports technology sub-community.  iSportconnect has done a great job since its launch in bringing together like minded professionals and we welcome the opportunity to help to contribute to its continued growth.”

Chris Hughes is Head of PR and Communications at Sine Qua Non and has extensive experience in the motorsport arena. Chris was one of the original members of Panasonic Toyota Racing’s Marketing and Communications team and was jointly responsible for building up the team’s Formula 1 press office from scratch. Prior to joining Sine Qua Non, Chris was responsible for MotoGP communications at Bridgestone Motorsport.

Founder and CEO of iSportconnect Sree Varma added: “iSportconnect is delighted to announce this working partnership in order to obtain the expert opinions and views of Sine Qua Non. We are excited to be able to provide our loyal members with the latest news and discussions within the sports technology and motorsport sub-communities and feel that the extensive experience of both Claire and Chris will help us to offer the best service possible within these industries.”

Sine Qua Non is a leading innovator in helping companies to maximise the positive impact of Marketing, PR and Sponsorship across the business to deliver on this challenge.

Since its inception at the turn of the Millennium, Sine Qua Non has enjoyed a period of continuous growth throughout the 2000s. Initially created to fulfil a desire to fuse a driving passion for technology and sports sponsorship, the company has incrementally built up a dedicated marketing and PR competence over the years.