Global sports, music and entertainment company Wasserman has hired Chris Foy as Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Rights Sales, North America announced today by Matt Vandrau, Wasserman President EMEA & APAC who also oversees the Global Rights Sales Team.
Foy will lead the Rights Sales team in North America to deliver significant partners and revenue to its rights holder clients.
Following Wasserman’s acquisition of CSM Sport & Entertainment in 2023, Wasserman is now a worldwide leader in commercial sales. Its dedicated rights sales team boasts an unrivaled global network within the industry, with clients that include the Los Angeles Lakers, numerous Formula 1 teams and Premier League clubs, Netflix, Men in Blazers, and The British and Irish Lions.
Part of Chris’s role will be to bolster Wasserman’s retained rights holder roster by acquiring new clients as well as maximizing revenue for existing clients.
“With over 28 years of experience in the industry, Chris is one of the most respected and accomplished sponsorship executives within the sports and entertainment landscape and we are thrilled to have him lead our North American rights business.” said Matt Vandrau, Wasserman President EMEA & APAC.
“Our goal is always to deliver the best service possible to our clients and we have a first-class team to deliver this which is further strengthened by Chris’s arrival.”
Chris Foy, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Rights Sales, North America, said: “Having watched Wasserman’s exponential global growth over the last few years, the opportunity and potential of this role is truly exciting. With the rights holders we have on our roster and Wasserman’s global network, coupled with the relationships and expertise this team has within the industry, it provides the perfect platform to deliver innovative and effective partnerships.”
This hire follows the announcement from the Los Angeles Lakers that they have appointed Wasserman as their exclusive sales agency pursuing international sponsorship opportunities with world-class global brands on behalf of the Lakers.
Foy joins Wasserman’s best in class Rights Sales team from premium experiences company, Legends, where he was Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships. During his tenure at Legends, Foy oversaw numerous areas of the Global Partnerships business and personally secured several high-profile agreements for the company and its roster of clients.
Leading a Rights Division is not a new concept for Foy, as he previously launched his own agency (Impression Sports & Entertainment) which was a boutique sponsorship sales agency that specialized in selling premier sponsorship assets.
Since its launch in 2011, the company’s portfolio of sales success included venue naming rights, MLS kit sponsorships, an NBA patch deal, pro sports (league and team agreements), and an unrivaled success in selling Bowl Game Title Sponsorships. Impression Sports was eventually purchased by FOX Sports.
Chris’s entire career has been within the sponsorship landscape with notable stops at The Bonham Group, Live Nation, and General Sports Alliances.
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About Wasserman
Wasserman operates at the epicenter of sports, music, entertainment and culture, serving talent, brands and properties on a global scale. As a trusted partner to the world’s most iconic teams, leagues, venues and governing bodies, Wasserman Rights Sales leverages our unrivaled network and expertise in the industry to build compelling commercial propositions. We broker effective deals between rights-holders and brands, delivering mutual value for both parties.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman’s presence spans 27 countries and more than 66 cities, including New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.teamwass.com.
