The Sport Business Summit
体育商业峰会

Xu is currently the President of CMC HOLDINGS and is mainly responsible for the investment in the fields of film, music, sports and etc. His previous role saw him serve as Managing Director of CMC CAPITAL.

Mr. Xu has been involved in the investments in Oriental DreamWorks, Star China, IMAX China, etc., and has played an important role in fundraising. Prior to joining CMC, Mr. Xu was SVP of Super Sports Media Inc, where he helped build one of the most successful cross-media sports media businesses in China since its inception and served as chief negotiator on the world’s first long-term sports rights agreement with the English Premier League. Also in his career Mr. Xu was the Chief Financial Officer of Eurosoccer Digital TV, a premium sports channel, where he oversaw financing, strategic partnership and business affairs.

Ivan was a member of the founding management team that set up Major League Soccer in 1996. In 2001 he was appointed its Deputy Commissioner and, during his time, oversaw the key strategic and business decisions of MLS and its marketing arm, Soccer United Marketing.

He was appointed CEO of Arsenal in 2009, one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs with a massive global fan following. The team has an unparalleled record of on-field consistency, qualifying for the Champions’ League 17 years in a row, and is renowned for its values-driven, self-funding approach.  In recent years Arsenal has signed two of the most lucrative shirt sponsorship contracts in the EPL with Emirates and Puma, reportedly worth approximately $100 million/year in aggregate, and has built an extensive partnerships portfolio including Gatorade, Huawei and Citroen.

David is committed to growing the business of Wanda Sports, helping it to become the largest sports company in the world. Prior to joining Wanda Group, David worked for the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a senior Vice President in charge of Business Development and Marketing Sponsorships. He also gained further experience while working for Merrill Lynch, Deloitte Touche and Enron Corporation. Mr. Yang obtained his MBA degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, dual Master’s degrees with full scholarship from the University of Texas, and Bachelor’s degree of International Economics with highest honour from Nankai University.

Loic Biver was born in a traditional Swiss family. His father Mr. Jean-Claude Biver, the president of LVMH watch department and chairman of HUBLOT, is one of very few names that has left a mark in the history of watchmaking industry. Not surprisingly, Loic inherited the passion for watchmaking from his father.

In 2005，he graduated from the renowned HEC Paris and made visionary decision, especially in a retrospective point of view – to study in Renmin University of China. Being here in a university that is full of Chinese characteristics and immersed in a completely Chinese environment, young Loic spent two years learning the language and the essence of Chinese culture.

In 2007, when Loic completed his education, he did not return to Swiss but decided to go to Hong Kong and be part of Swiss Prestige, the major agent for Swiss watches in Asia, dedicating himself to the marketing and business development of Swiss mechanical watch industry in Asia as the very beginning of his career. Loic started as a sales manager and was made the brand manager of Hublot for Hong Kong in his fourth year there.

In 2011, Loic went to Shanghai and worked as the director of Hublot for China as part of LVMH group. With his extraordinary leadership, Hublot grew with great momentum and made incredible achievements. Only officially made its presence in China in 2009, Hublot expanded in an increasingly fast pace in the past few years since its first boutique in Plaza 66 Shanghai. The brand’s unique marketing strategies, including Hublot Loves Football and Hublot Loves Art, have become the most successful campaigns so far.

As Chief Operating Officer of NBA China, Collins Qian oversees the NBA’s business operations in China, including Marketing Partnerships, Merchandising, and Content and Media Distribution, as well as executes key components of NBA China’s business development.  Qian also leads the NBA’s youth development efforts in China through the Jr. NBA, which implements basketball classes using a curriculum developed in cooperation with China’s Ministry of Education.

Since assuming his current role in 2010, Qian has orchestrated key NBA partnerships with leading Chinese enterprises, including China Central Television (CCTV); Tencent, which encompasses live game broadcasts, NBA LEAGUE PASS subscriptions, mobile gaming and official NBA destinations on Tencent digital platforms; SMG/BesTV, which includes IPTV and game console platforms; NBA e-commerce; and social media offerings.

Prior to joining the NBA, Qian served as Partner and Managing Director of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he opened the firm’s China office in 1993.  Over his thirteen years at BCG, Qian served as co-head of TMT (Technology, Media and Telecom) of Asia Pacific, head of Corporate Development and Private Equity Practice, and Career Development Committee Chair in Greater China.  Prior to that, Qian co-founded an internet startup in Beijing, and served as a sales manager at Proctor & Gamble.

Jay came into his role last year and is a senior executive who has held multiple leadership positions in key industries in China and the U.S. He leads WWE’s strategic business development initiatives and day-to-day operations in China and works in conjunction with local government authorities and partners across all of WWE’s lines of the business including television, live events, marketing, sponsorship, new media, licensing and merchandising.

Robert Klein joined the Bundesliga in April 2017 and his role focuses on the international expansion of the league and in particular their efforts in China. The German league is seen as one of the most innovative and forward thinking rightsholders. In the Chinese digital media, for the second time in succession the Bundesliga is Number 1 among Europe’s football leagues. It is the only European football league that has a Chinese-language website and is present among its fans in the Weibo and WeChat social networks.

Robert was previously the Head of Sports Rights for Red Bull Media House, a multi-platform media company that creates authentic entertainment inspiring a way of life. Robert was responsible for growing the company’s global sport portfolio. His main responsibilities included: assessing and implementing global business partnerships within sport, acquiring live sports and cultural content for Red Bull Media House and global commercial distribution of Red Bull-owned properties. Before Red Bull Media House he worked as Executive Director for International Sports Multimedia (ISM), UEFA New Media and NBA Europe Events. He holds a Masters’ Degree in Leisure Policy and Planning from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

A former English footballer, Roy was Manager of the England national football team from May 2012  to June 2016. He started his managerial career in Halmstads BK in 1976, proving himself as a successful coach by winning the league championship in 1976 and 1979. He has led a number of European clubs including: Malmo FF, Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Grasshoppers, FC Copenhagen, Fulham and Liverpool. He led the Malmo to two Swedish championship wins (1986 and 1988) and also to win the Svenska Cupen in 1986 and 1989. It was under the guidance of Roy that the Switzerland national football team reached the round of 16 at the 1994 World Cup, whereas prior to that Switzerland had failed to reach the World Cup finals for eight years. He also led the team to qualify for Euro 1996. Roy led England to Euro 2012 and also sealed their position in the 2014 World Cup, by leading them to six wins and four draws, finishing top of their group.

Brian has been in his current role since May 2016 and has been with Adidas overall for 4 years, progressing from a Merchandising Director to a Senior Director, with a focus in Basketball. Before joining Adidas, he worked for Li-Ning which is China’s biggest sports apparel firm, where he led negotiations, signing, business planning & execution for Landmark Dwyane Wade Partnership. Overall Brian has spent 8 years in China so far in his career.

Frank Leenders has more than 20 years of experience in international sports marketing at the highest level. He started his professional career with ISL Marketing during the FIFA World Cup 1990 and subsequently joined start-up company TEAM Marketing in 1992, where he was part of the launch and development of the international benchmark project, the UEFA Champions League, since its very first season (1992-93). Frank held several positions in marketing and operations and ultimately was solely heading the Television department (sales and production) from 1998 onwards.

He moved to Rome to join pay television Sky Italia in 2001, where he was Director of Sports Rights Acquisitions, responsible for the acquisition of all sports related television rights. In 2002 he returned to TEAM, where he became Managing Director and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2005.

Following his departure at the end of 2010, he co-founded the independent sports marketing firm Value-Experience in Zurich. In 2012, they developed a dedicated media and marketing unit for FIBA, the International Basketball Federation in Geneva, Switzerland. Frank holds the position of Director General of this entity: FIBA Media and Marketing Services SA.

As of August 2017, Mr. Jisheng Gao became a Co-Owner of Southampton FC along with his daughter Mrs Nelly Gao by acquiring an 80% stake of the club. He is also Chairman and Director of Lander Sports Development Co Ltd with an approximate 53 percent shareholding in the Company. He also founded Lander Sports’ holding company, Lander Holdings, in 1995, in which he has a 100 percent shareholding.

He has a proven track record in the Chinese sports industry, with football his primary focus. He is Honorary President of the Xiaoshan Football Association, Senior Consultant of the Zhejiang Football Association, Executive Vice President of the Macao Association of Zhejiang Entrepreneurs, and President of the Sports Industry Committee of the General Association of Zhejiang Entrepreneurs.

Chinese skaters had first competed at the Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid in 1980 but none had made any great impression at the top level until the emergence in the early 90s of Chen Lu. From a sporting background, her father was involved in ice hockey whilst her mother competed in table tennis; she was born in the city of Changchun in Northeastern China. She won the first of her 10 Chinese national championships in 1989 shortly after her 13th birthday and went on to bronze medals at both the 1991 and 1992 World Junior Championships.

In the senior ranks she burst through to prominence at the Albertville Olympic Games where many thought she was unlucky to be placed only in sixth. A few weeks later she became the first Chinese skater to win a medal at the World Championship when she placed third in Oakland. Chen seemed to specialize in winning bronze at that time in her career as she repeated the feat at the 1993 World Championships and then at the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994. Like her World Championship bronze, her Olympic bronze was the first medal won by a Chinese skater at that level. Her final breakthrough occurred with a victory at the 1995 World Championship

David Proper currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Media & International Strategy for the National Hockey League. In this capacity, Proper oversees all of the League’s TV rightsholder relationships including the NHL’s comprehensive broadcast agreements with NBC, Rogers Communications and MTG.  In addition, he is charged with the development and execution of the NHL’s international media strategy as well as the League’s broadcast business affairs, footage and photo licensing, and scheduling. Most recently, Proper has been a key figure in helping to accelerate the development of hockey in China, including securing media partnerships with CCTV and Tencent, as well as helping to establish the 2017 NHL China Games presented by O.R.G. Packaging – the first NHL games in China – in addition to a variety of initiatives that will inspire generations of Chinese players and fans.

In 2016, under Proper’s leadership, live coverage of the World Cup of Hockey 2016 (a two-week best-on-best international hockey championship featuring eight teams and 150 of the NHL’s best players, which helped the NHL relaunch its overall international strategy and commitment to growing the game globally) was broadcast on television networks serving more than 200 regions and territories across six continents. Several of these networks carried the tournament in countries for the first time, including China.

Fahri joined Wasserman in 2010. In his role as Global Football’s Chief Operating Officer, he is responsible for the division’s worldwide operations, including domestic and international integration, development, strategy and infrastructure. Fahri is a practicing lawyer in the U.K. and served as the Division’s Legal Counsel prior to his role of COO, Global Football. The Wasserman Global Football team represents circa 600 clients across the globe, comfortably making them the most established sports agency business within the industry. Before joining Wasserman, Fahri trained and qualified as a commercial lawyer. He is also a registered lawyer with the Football Association, a Director of the Association of Football Agents, and a Director and Treasurer of the British Association for Sport and Law.

Mathieu Ficot joined LFP in March 2013 as Chief Commercial Officer. From Paris, he manages LFP’s media and international activities in relation with Ligue 1, Ligue 2, Coupe de la Ligue and French Supercup.
Prior to joining LFP, Mathieu’s experience included various positions in the sport business area. In 1996, he spent one year in the legal department of The French Olympic Committee. The following year, he joined one of Paris’ professional clubs, the “Paris Saint Germain Omnisports”, as General Manager. His field of responsibilities covered sports issues (player management and recruitment), commercial strategy and financial controlling. During the summer of 2000, Mathieu joined the public broadcasting group “France Televisions” as Deputy Head of Sports. His role was based on the acquisition of broadcasting rights, from both rights holders and agencies, of sports events for the benefit of the television channels France 2 and France 3. Further to this, Mathieu was elected Vice President of the European Broadcasting Union Sports
Group in 2002, chairing the “new technologies and development” commission for two years. In January 2005, he joined SPORTFIVE SA in Paris. As Vice-President Media he was notably responsible for international acquisitions and tenders. In 2009, he was made Executive Vice President at SPORTFIVE INTERNATIONAL. From Geneva, Mathieu has led for 18 months the worldwide Media activities of SPORTFIVE group; he was notably in charge of the management of major accounts (including IOC and
UEFA).

As the leading sportswear brand in China, ANTA Sports Products Limited primarily designs, develops, manufactures and markets ANTA sportswear, including sports footwear, apparel and accessories. For the past 13 years, ANTA Sports’ footwear has been enjoying a leading position in China. Anta has been on the top 50 list of Interbrand’s “Best China Brand” for five years and is the most valuable of all sportswear brands.

David is committed to growing the business of Wanda Sports, helping it to become the largest sports company in the world. Prior to joining Wanda Group, David worked for the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a senior Vice President in charge of Business Development and Marketing Sponsorships. He also gained further experience while working for Merrill Lynch, Deloitte Touche and Enron Corporation. Mr. Yang obtained his MBA degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, dual Master’s degrees with full scholarship from the University of Texas, and Bachelor’s degree of International Economics with highest honour from Nankai University.

Wendy secured a 10-year content partnership with a video service pioneer in China. This is a first of its kind partnership for the WTA in China. This platform will reinvent WTA’s digital offer in China through providing fans with never-before access to women’s tennis action, including, the live transmission of over 2000 women’s tennis matches

Based in Singapore, Beatrice has over 16 years’ experience in the sports marketing industry. She joined Aser Group in October 2016 as the CEO of Baofeng Sports international, a JV between Aser & Baofeng China. She manages the company business expansion and operations globally. Beatrice was with MP & Silva for 7 years since October 2009 as the Managing Director, Asia Pacific, where she managed all commercial & operations across the region, excluding Japan and Korea. Previously, she was the Commercial Director at Infront Sports & Media’s Beijing office, where she was in charge of the commercial rights for the Chinese national football and basketball teams and assisted in the sale of FIFA archive rights across Asia. Prior to Infront, Beatrice spent five years at the Total Sports Asia agency, at first in regional sales and latterly as the Senior Manager for Business Development

Han Mu, previously a business reporter, co-founded Lanxiong Sports along with Li Shuangfu in 2015. Lanxiong Sports are China’s first integrated service platform in the sports industry, providing services like industry news, research reports. networking, branding and project promotion through media, events financial services and think tanks.