Rob leads the EMEA Sport division at one of the most exciting tech platforms in Sport media today – YouTube.
His team is responsible for setting the product and go-to-market strategy for the business, and enabling thriving partnerships with the sport organisations. He is passionate about driving the sport industry forward to meet the new demands of a digital age, and of changing fan behaviour.
Under his purview, the YouTube platform has consistently ranked as the number one destination for sport video online.
Rob takes a keen interest in equal opportunities and socioeconomic inclusion, having grown up in a single-parent family relying on income support and free school meals. After passing the 11+ exam, Rob received free Grammar School education and qualified on a funded bursary for the University of Oxford, as the first in his family to attend higher education. Rob’s experience has fuelled his interest in improving opportunities for those from challenging backgrounds, in particular through the power of sport. He is a founding trustee of the education-through-football charity Future Academy.
His work at YouTube serves to democratise access to sports content – both entertainment and education – for billions of users worldwide. YouTube has cemented it’s position as the “Home of Highlights” for fans and sports organisations, as well as being home to a thriving creator ecosystem. But Rob has helped take that to the next level with an increased offering of live sport on YouTube – from the UEFA Champions League final in the UK with BT Sport, to the Formula One Eifel Grand Prix available across Northern Europe, to a full season of Serie A available in the MENA region.
Rob’s influence has been key in ensuring YouTube plays a net positive role in the sporting ecosystem; helping drive one of the most impactful actions taken to grow women’s football: The four year global partnership with DAZN & UEFA to bring all games of the UEFA Women’s Champions League to fans globally for free on YouTube. The partnership’s results have amassed more than 12 million fans on the official UWCL channel and driven audiences over 50% higher than the previous season. This project delivered real action; not just words. Beyond the streaming, giving fans free access to the competition has had a knock-on impact, inspiring increased interest in the women’s game globally.
