The Professional Footballers’ Association Taps TurnkeyZRG to Lead Chief Commercial Officer Search
November 27, 2023 – TurnkeyZRG has been tapped by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to lead in its search for a chief commercial officer. George Williams, managing director, U.K. and Europe, is leading the assignment. The purpose of this role is to scale the revenues generated by the PFA from commercial partnerships with sponsors, brands, media organizations and other key stakeholders within the football and sports industry. The chief commercial officer will report directly into the PFA’s CEO, Maheta Molango and will sit on the organization’s senior management team.
The CCO will take full ownership of refining and executing the PFA’s commercial partnership and sponsorship strategy. They will drive commercial partnerships which allows the PFA to continue to invest in and develop player related services and benefits.
Candidates should have proven commercial track record of delivering partnership revenues. They will have demonstrable experience of creating innovative strategies that have driven commercial growth. In addition, they will have high emotional intelligence and low ego, with the ability to develop positive working relationships externally as well as internally.
TurnkeyZRG notes that candidates will have demonstrable experience of driving partnership and sponsorship revenues within sports as well we proven leadership experience in managing and developing a commercial/ sales team.
Related: TurnkeyZRG Seeking Chief Marketing Officer for the Chicago Fire
The Professional Footballers’ Association is the union for all current and former footballers and scholars in the Premier League, the Women’s Super League and English Football Leagues. They provide the information, advice and support you need to help maximize the opportunities that come with playing professional football.
Sports, Media and Entertainment Consultants
Founded in 1996, TurnkeyZRG is a specialized talent recruitment/executive search firm filling C-level, senior-level and mid-management-level positions throughout sports, media and entertainment. Over the past 25 years, the firm has filled more than 1,400 positions. TurnkeyZRG helps teams, leagues, stadiums, arenas, theaters, college athletic departments, events, sponsors, agencies, media companies, private equity companies and other clients identify, recruit, and hire the best management talent.
Len Perna is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Turnkey. He has 30-plus years’ experience in the sports and entertainment industry, with senior-level management experience in sales, event marketing and management, sponsorships, venue feasibility and development, facility operations, licensing, and legal affairs. Since founding Turnkey, Mr. Perna has managed over 1,400 executive searches.
TurnkeyZRG Recruits CEO for the United States Soccer Federation
TurnkeyZRG has assisted in the recruitment of former media, advertising, and technology executive J.T. Batson as the new CEO of the United States Soccer Federation, the national governing body for the sport of soccer. Current CEO Will Wilson announced he will be stepping down at the end of October to pursue new professional ventures and opportunities. “JT is uniquely qualified for this position as a person who has vast experience working with large, complex organizations as well as an understanding of the intricate workings of modern business,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer. “He also has a passion for soccer born out playing and growing up in a generation that saw a massive growth of the sport in the U.S. His energy, leadership, creative thinking and personal connection to seeing U.S. Soccer and the sport thrive will be a huge positive for the future of our federation overall.”
In addition to serving as a driving force in TurnkeyZRG international expansion into the European market, Mr. Williams collaborates closely with ZRG’s Sucherman division to further support its flourishing growth within the region as well. He joined the firm in October. “George’s extensive experience, industry knowledge, and collaborative approach make him an invaluable addition to the team as we continue to provide top-tier executive search and talent advisory services to our clients worldwide.”
Based in London, Mr. Williams has a 15-year track record in executive search, with a primary focus on the sports and media sector. Prior to joining TurnkeyZRG, he served as partner at Savannah Group, where he played a pivotal role in developing and expanding the organization’s sport and media practice throughout Europe. Throughout his career, Mr. Williams has orchestrated high-profile appointments for sports and media organizations, placing board members, directors, senior managers, chief executive officers, and various C-suite executives. His clients spans a wide spectrum of the sport and media ecosystem, including sports rights holders, international broadcasters, global sports leagues, production companies, esports organizations, OTT streaming platforms, European football clubs, Formula One teams, and private equity groups.
“As the connectivity between the U.S. and European sport and media industries grows ever stronger, there is a natural opportunity to provide industry leading talent solutions to clients on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Mr. Williams.
Related: TurnkeyZRG Recruits Head Coach for Yale Men’s Golf Team
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
