Stuart is an accomplished, conscientious, commercial leader with a proven track record of delivering record revenues, operating in high profile, complex stakeholder environments.
His expertise spans the sponsorship, broadcast, digital, retail, and event mix within the sports and entertainment industry. Throughout his career, Stuart has worked with and for brilliant individuals and businesses, gaining a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics that drive commercial success.
With international experience in selling and activating sponsorship and media rights, Stuart has been responsible for developing and implementing progressive commercial strategies with a global outlook. Effectively negotiating multifaceted, award-winning partnerships to deliver record revenue streams and mutually beneficial agreements – including over £225million of new sponsorship agreements.
Stuart is driven by ambition to lead successful, inclusive, innovative teams and organisations. He considers himself fortunate to be surrounded by talented colleagues and partners!
His leadership style is characterised by thoughtfulness, measured decision-making, and effective communication. He sets the business architecture and standards before coaching and working with and through others to achieve objectives.
Stuart’s impact (creating energy, clarity and value) on organisations and colleagues has helped him reach his current role – leading the Commercial Development & Rights function, reporting to the CCO, at the English Football League (‘EFL’).
His vision and ability to generate high-quality ideas, before leading cross-departmental collaboration to nurture these, has the effect of building support and momentum across internal and external stakeholders.
Fostering a highly collaborative culture, Stuart led the recent business-wide effort to create and implement the EFL’s new ‘Clubs & Communities’ partnership model. Bringing together all 72 EFL Clubs (commercial rights) and 72 Club Community Organisations (community activity) to collectively deliver partnerships at an unprecedented scale.
This landmark approach has created a powerful market position and USP for the EFL.
Already delivering record income, it provides a model for continued growth in revenue, community investment and social impact, while elevating the profile of the partners involved. Reconfirming that when sport comes together with the right brands, and the right people, we can form truly purposeful, impactful partnerships.
Stuart and his colleagues are now focused on extending this momentum and growth into and beyond the next commercial cycle…