Andrew Thompson is a key business leader behind the global sailing league SailGP, a purpose driven property at the pinnacle of the sport. Andrew has been instrumental in building the fast-paced entertainment product with technology and sustainability at its core from the ground up: from the initial business plan, to recruiting the athletes, setting up the franchise structure, to building the commercial proposition, raising the finance, and setting the culture.
Prior to SailGP, in early 2016 Andrew was offered the opportunity to become CFO of the America’s Cup working for five-time America’s Cup winner Sir Russell Coutts and owner Larry Ellison (Oracle). Through Andrew and the management team’s diligent approach, the 35th America’s Cup event met its commercial goals.
Following the success of the 35th America’s Cup, Russell and Larry then provided Andrew the opportunity to lead the SailGP business planning and the responsibility of running the day-to-day business of SailGP, launching a challenger proposition into the industry which to date has won numerous awards, secured equity investment from Endeavour/IMG and appeared in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster “Tenet”. SailGP is a multi-faceted and multi-jurisdictional organization operating eight sailing teams, curating in house event production, hospitality, broadcast production, content and includes SailGP Technologies, an enterprise based in New Zealand that designs, engineers, and builds SailGP’s F50 race fleet and innovative technologies.
Andrew was behind the strategic shift for SailGP’s “Race for the Future” program to accelerate change to clean energy. SailGP as a climate positive league is the first sport to achieve both the Carbon Neutral International Standard and a triple-gold recognition from the United Nations Climate Neutral Now Initiative. Further, through the SailGP Inspire programme – the organisation is providing opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter the sport. This includes a professional pathway program for females to train and compete on SailGP’s F50s.
Broadcast in 175+ territories, with a first season viewership of over 250 million, SailGP is striving to be the blueprint for staging sustainable sports events, a mission Andrew is determined to succeed in.
Earlier in his career, Andrew was a key member of the LOCOG finance team that delivered the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on budget before moving on to lead finance for the Americas region of the Perform Group (now DAZN). Whilst based in New York, Andrew was part of the team that successfully integrated the Sporting News media into the wider Perform business.