Global Sport and Entertainment business, CSM, has strengthened its leadership team with the announcement today of Sophie Goldschmidt as Group Managing Director.
Sophie will join CSM in March 2016 from her role as Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at the Rugby Football Union (RFU) where she has been leading all revenue-generating areas of the organisation as well as marketing, digital and communications. Sophie was the first female member of the RFU’s Management Board and also Chaired and oversaw the RFU’s various subsidiary companies.
Reporting to CSM’s Group CEO, Zak Brown, Sophie will be responsible for developing new business opportunities, supporting the various agencies, driving strategic commercial ventures across CSM’s global operations and managing the group’s brand development & marketing.
With an international background working in North America and across EMEA in both sports management and marketing and communications, Sophie has held highly successful leadership and commercial roles across a number of sporting organisations, including the iconic National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Adidas America. In addition to her executive career, Sophie is also currently a non-executive director for the PGA European Tour and the Youth Sport Trust.
Commenting on Sophie’s appointment, Zak Brown, Group CEO, CSM said: “The global sponsorship market is strong and sport as a share is growing with new events and initiatives, new markets and new brands entering the sector. CSM sits at the heart of this industry, challenging the status quo, driving innovation, engagement and activation. Sophie’s global sport and commercial experience will help us grow in the highly competitive sports and entertainment sectors. I am delighted she is coming on board and am looking forward to working alongside her in a new role for the Group.”
Commenting on her new appointment, Sophie said: “This is an exciting time for sport and entertainment worldwide. CSM has the passion, innovation, people and global footprint to drive and develop these sectors. I am looking forward to working with the all the agencies to further develop the global business strategy, commercial and partnership opportunities and to help with international expansion of the group, particularly in our priority markets of North America and Asia.”
–ENDS–
Enquiries
Jackie Brock-Doyle, CSM Communications
Tel: +44 20 7593 5204
Mbl: +44 7876785756
Notes to Editors
About CSM
CSM is a global leader in the business of sport and entertainment and is part of Chime, now owned by Providence Equity Partners.
CSM is made up of 14 specialist agencies and operates on every continent with over 800 people across 24 offices in 19 countries.
CSM is active in every major sport through world-class services from strategy to execution. These include activation, athlete management, branding, broadcast, consultancy, content and digital, planning, PR, hospitality, rights sales, social media, strategy and management of live events.
CSM serves the biggest brands and rights holders in the world, including Unilever, HSBC, Diageo, Verizon, UBS, Samsung, Subway, Dow, IOC, UEFA, Formula One Management, the Premier League and the PGA.
FACTS at a GLANCE
- Employees: 800+
- Office locations (24): Abu Dhabi, Adelaide, Auckland, Berlin, Cape Town, Connecticut, Doha, Dubai, Dunedin, Hong Kong, Indianapolis, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Moscow, Muscat, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo
- Countries (19): Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA
- Agencies (14): CSM Soccer, CSM Strategic, Essentially, Fast Track, Full Access Hospitality, Golden Goal/CSM Brasil, Good Relations, ICON, iLUKA, JMI, People Marketing, SJX Partners, Sportseen, The Blaze Agency
- Key clients: Companies – DIAGEO, HSBC, Jaguar Land Rover, L’Oréal, UBS, Unilever, UPS Rights Holders – UEFA, FIFA, Spanish Football Association, Williams F1, World Rugby, English & Wales Cricket Board
A little more about CSM’s world leading agencies:
Essentially: Offering a forward-thinking approach to sport and entertainment marketing; Essentially specialise in athlete management, brand consulting, commercial rights sales & delivery and hospitality & events with a particular strength in rugby, cricket and music. Clients include Chris Robshaw, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Victor Matfield, World Rugby, England & Wales Cricket Board, Lawn Tennis Association, Rugby Football League, British Phonographic Industry, Vitality, Unilever, SABMiller, Waitrose and Accolade Wines. For more information visit: www.essentiallygroup.com
Fast Track: Putting brands at the heart of the most compelling sports stories, to achieve measurable business goals, offering services in consulting, content and live events. Clients include HSBC, GSK, Land Rover, Longines, AIA, Manchester City, MetLife, McLaren, Mubadala, and Jacksonville Jaguars. For more information visit: www.fasttrackagency.com
ICON: Bringing brands to life by creating and delivering brand and live experiences around the world for clients in sport, retail, corporate and public sectors. ICON’s clients include: Rio 2016 Olympic Games, FIFA, UEFA, Formula E, L”Oreal, Thomas Pink, GE, Barclays and the London Legacy Development Corporation. For more information visit: www.icon-world.com
iLUKA: A specialised event agency that creates and delivers immersive brand experiences and operational delivery for sponsors and stakeholders at global sporting events. Clients include adidas, Dow, Visa, Bradesco, The Coca-Cola Company, McDonald’s, International Olympic Committee, Samsung, Hyundai and Yokahama. For more information visit: www.iluka.co.uk
JMI: Exclusively in motorsports representing brands and corporations in all forms of premier motorsports worldwide.. Clients include Bose, Castrol, DIAGEO (Crown Royal & Johnnie Walker) GSK, Mazda, UPS, Unilever, UBS and Verizon. For more information visit www.justmarketing.com
CSM also comprises additional specialist companies and local market specialists in Asia, North and South America, Middle East and Europe.
About Chime
Chime is a sport, entertainment and communications group present in six continents, 20 countries and 32 cities. The group comprises CSM in sport and entertainment; the VCCP Partnership in marketing communications; OPEN Health in healthcare communications, public relations and market access; CIE in market research; Good Relations, Teamspirit and Harvard in PR; and the Chime Specialist Group for communications in specialist market places. For more information, please go to www.chimegroup.com
About Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners is the world’s leading global private equity firm focused on equity investments in media, communications, education, and information companies. The firm manages funds with over $40 billion in commitments and has invested in more than 140 companies globally since its inception in 1989. Providence is headquartered in Providence, RI and also has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Delhi. Visit www.provequity.com for more information.
