GENERAL SPORTS WORLDWIDE - Key Persons
Aidan is a Manager of Operations at General Sports Worldwide who specializes in contracts, negotiations, and labor law. His experience includes player representation, consulting, diversity initiatives, event management, and project organization. A former Ivy League athlete with a reputation as an innovator and a leader, Aidan is a great asset to General Sports Worldwide, supporting the firm and its clients and ensuring the highest level of client service is provided at all times. Aidan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and labor relations with a minor in business from Cornell University where he graduated with honors.
For more than three decades, Andy has been at the forefront of sports. From an All-American champion wrestler to becoming a top executive of the NBA's Detroit Pistons to then Club Chairman and owner of Derby County Football Club (Premier League and Championship). As Chairman, it is Andy's reach and the relationships he has built throughout his career that make the concept of a Sports Team M&A division appealing to prospective investors and current team owners alike.
Andy has sold every ticket, suite and sponsorship; Managed at every level of team sports; And also owned at every level of professional sports - on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition he has built and grown his very own award winning baseball league and ballpark.
Andy has a Master's Degree in Sports Management and a Bachelor of Science in English from Springfield College in Massachusetts. He serves on the Board of Directors for the General Sports Foundation/Suite Dreams Project. Andy was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002.
Job Titles:
- Football Performance Specialist
- Head of Football Performance
Anthony Aluko is a Football Performance Specialist, working at elite emerging and senior level across some of the biggest footballing markets in Europe. He has trained a range of players from up and coming talent worldwide, to premier league stars. Anthony has over 14 years coaching experience; coaching teams, academy players, futsal, European teams, women's teams/ players & S&C. With 7+ of those years dedicated to individual player development.Industry-recognised, Anthony is also a brand performance headliner for Nike Inc in the UK. With experience working with many sports brands within football.
A highly accomplished commercial professional with 20+ years proven experience in high level partnership acquisition in English Football. Ashley was previously Director of Partnerships at Derby County Football Club. His successes include acquiring Global and National partners for Front of Shirt, Technical Rights, Retail, Pouring Rights, Stadium Naming Rights, and significant Image Rights deals. Several of these acquisitions remain some of the largest commercial partnerships in EFL history.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive
- Senior Vice President Ticketing and Technology
Brandon is a senior executive with over 25 years of experience working within the sports industry. Holding senior commercial roles at both Nottingham Forest and Derby County along with working at Director level within a global, market leading SaaS tech business, supplying ticketing solutions across the English Premier League, EFL, Eredivisie, Serie A and US Leagues.
Brandon has a proven track record of enhancing the commercial efficiencies and business to consumer revenues, by focusing on strategic management and planning in Ticketing, Technology, Customer Service and Communications.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Manager Executive Search and Team Consulting
Brock acquired 3+ years of experience in the sports industry before joining GSW in 2023. He began his career for the Chicago Fire FC (MLS) out of college, previously interning at the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), and the United Shore Professional Baseball League. Brock made a name for himself at the Fire by selling season ticket packages and creating valuable relationships with some of the city's elite business leaders; he was promoted twice during his time with the Fire. Brock is highly regarded for his work ethic, creativity, and overall approach in the ticket sales process.
Brock graduated from the University of Missouri in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Sport Management. He currently resides in Chicago just a few blocks from historic Wrigley Field.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Athlete Management
Brodie Waters has a career in sports that spans over twenty years, working with premier leagues, brands and athletes in the industry. As the founder and President of IMAC Consulting, Inc., Waters provided consulting services to various teams in the NFL as well as for major media outlets - including ESPN. Widely regarded as an expert on the NFL salary cap, Waters is the creator of the Roster Management System, which provides advanced analytical data and in-depth contract analysis and statistical interpretation. In addition, Waters served as a consultant to various organizations, aiding on subjects ranging from negotiation tactics, client management and revenue generation.
For more than 10 years he worked with the PGA TOUR, leading the efforts of the World Golf Hall of Fame, overseeing the global expansion of the brand and creating new partnerships. Prior to the PGA TOUR, he served as Vice President at Axcess Sports & Entertainment, where he headed the Football Division, negotiating multiple 1st Round NFL contracts for players such as Vince Wilfork, Pacman Jones and Jon Beason, as well as led the Consulting Division, where he developed projects with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Oscar De La Hoya and Magic Johnson.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Executive Search, Strategic Consulting & Analytics
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, GSW Cricket
ECB Licensed Cricket Agent & FA Licensed Intermediary. James represents several world class cricketers and is widely regarded as an industry leading Agent, possessing one of the strongest networks within the game both at home and abroad. This is demonstrated by the number of clients involved in the leading cricket competitions around the world.
James is truly invested in ensuring that his clients remain at the forefront of County, Franchise and International Cricket. With a wealth of experience in managing footballers, James has a portfolio of players across all the divisions, and has completed multiple football transfers and contract negotiations. James is also a fluent French speaker and is active in the French football market. Commercially James has worked with top premier league players such as Anthony Martial and Riyad Mahrez on projects with global brands such as Footlocker and BT Sports.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Stoke City FC
- CEO of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
- Head of Sport Team Mergers & Acquisitions
Jez has enjoyed a long and illustrious career within the English football world and is recognized as one of game's leading chief executives, having been named FC Business Chief Executive of the Year in 2015.
In a 16-year spell as CEO of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Jez led two Premier League promotions and handled hundreds of millions of pounds of player contracts and transfer fees, whilst maintaining the team's position as the 10th most profitable club in the sport over a five-year period (Deloitte). In 2016, he headed the sale of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC to Chinese conglomerate, Fosun International in a deal worth £50m. In addition, he increased shareholder value through strategic facility developments and was involved in several high-profile sport construction projects.
As CEO of Stoke City FC, Jez drove the construction of a 28,000 capacity stadium, part funded by a 10-year naming rights deal and a share investment agreement with the City Council. That project helped transform the club into a hugely attractive proposition for sale and Jez guided the takeover of Stoke by an Icelandic consortium. Currently, Jez serves on the board of the EFL, the Professional Game Board and Professional Football's Negotiation and Consultative Committee as well as previously serving on the FA Board, FA Council and various Premier League committees.
Job Titles:
- General Manager - General Sports Europe / Finance
Jo has more than 15 years experience in the sports industry where she has worked with high profile sports people and their families as well as a variety of corporate teams in the commercial world. Jo joined 366 Group from Stoke City where she was Assistant Club Secretary. Her time at Stoke followed more than a decade at Derby County where she took on the role as Executive Assistant to the corporate team and also that of Assistant Club Secretary.
Experienced in transfers, contract negotiations and commercial deals, Jo is a great asset to General Sports supporting the sports agents and their clients ensuring at all times the highest level of client service is provided.
Job Titles:
- Head of Data & Analytics
- Performance Analyst
Josh Brian is football performance analyst who has worked with various elite players, domestically and overseas, from various levels of the football pyramid. Using statistical and video analysis, Josh specialises in providing detailed and tailored sessions with both first team and academy players to identify the player's strengths and areas of opportunity - whilst also providing actionable insights and development points to improve their performances moving forward.
Previously of Brentford Football Club, Josh has developed a strong knowledge of football analytics and its ability to positively impact and effect decision-making within football organisations. Josh graduated from UCFB, Wembley Stadium, in 2019 with a First-Class Honours degree within a football business related subject. Josh joined General Sports in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Senior Manager Executive Search and Team Consulting
Kayla has over four years of experience in the sports industry, previously working for the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) where she was promoted twice in a short period of time for her outstanding results. Kayla was recruited out of college to join the Suns. Kayla is highly regarded for her tireless work ethic, attention to detail, creativeness, and upbeat energy. She is also passionate about building and maintaining relationships. She has a strong focus on making an impact on people in a positive way. Kayla is an active member of WISE (Women in Sports and Events).
Job Titles:
- Executive
- President
- President, Executive Search and Team Consulting
Lou is an executive with 28+ years of senior-level Leadership experience across multiple teams and leagues in North America. He is known for being an innovative and charismatic leader with a proven track record of significantly increasing franchise values across multiple sports leagues, markets, and venues, while recruiting, training, and developing some of the best front office talent in the sports and entertainment industry. Lou's career includes roles as Executive Vice President for the New York Mets (MLB), Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for the Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB), and Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for the Atlanta Spirit (Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Atlanta Thrashers (NHL), and State Farm Arena). Lou was also an original member of the NBA's Team Marketing and Business Operations (TMBO) department who as Vice President, Team Marketing & Business Development helped create the in-house consulting group's philosophy of driving and sharing best practices and innovation across all NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League, and was responsible for building the analytical infrastructure and reporting that is still used today. Prior to joining the NBA's League Office, Lou was the Vice President, Sales with the Florida (now Miami) Marlins, and Vice President of Sales for the Worcester IceCats (AHL). Lou graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in Management of Professional Sports Organizations.
Mark first joined the Agency 4 years ago and has over 10 years experience as a football intermediary. He also has a wide ranging client list that includes talent from League Two all the way up to the Premier League. Based in Manchester, Mark mainly works with talented Senior and youth players.
Job Titles:
- European Financial Controller
With over 35 years working in the Manufacturing Industry Matt brings a wealth of experience to work alongside the Management Team on all financial matters. Matt has been instrumental in implementing the company's forecasting and budgeting process, introducing and producing in depth monthly Management Reports to ensure full financial visibility throughout the company.
Job Titles:
- Sponsorship and Executive Search Consultant
Michael is currently studying a masters in Sport Business and Innovation in London, where he has been able to further his knowledge about the sports industry in areas such as commercial revenue generation and sustainability. Michael has a particular interest in the interaction between sports franchises, sports fans and sport franchise sponsoring brands which is reflected in his dissertation title which will investigate this relationship within football's English Premier League. Michael has been working with General Sports Europe since 2022, initially conducting club sale profiles for the mergers and acquisitions department, before moving across to his current consultant role within the Sponsorship and Executive Search departments.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of North America
Michael is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the professional sports industry having a career that spans over 35 years. Michael has been a pioneer in the industry, paving the way for other African Americans who followed in his footsteps.
Michael is currently the Managing Director of North America for General Sports Worldwide. In this role Michael directs the diversity initiatives division and personally provides consulting services for elite sports leagues and their commissioners, including the NFL, to advance the diversity initiatives of each league. Michael also directs the player representation division and manages countless professional athletes. Michael is also currently a Visiting Professor at Cornell University Law School where he created and teaches his course: The Art of Negotiation in Business & Sports. Most recently, Michael founded and directed, as Commissioner, the United Football League, raising over $200M in seed money. The UFL operated for four nationally televised seasons, competing directly against the NFL.
In 2001 Michael launched a highly successful Sports and Entertainment Agency, Axcess Sports & Entertainment, that represented professional athletes, Olympians, and entertainers. Michael has represented or partnered with athletes and celebrities including Magic Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya, Snoop Dogg, Billy Butler, Fred Funk, Vince Wilfork, and others. In 1994 Michael was selected to run football operations for the NFL start up Jacksonville Jaguars. Under his leadership, the Jaguars collected more wins in their first five seasons than any other new franchise in the history of the NFL, including a remarkable two AFC Championship game appearances. Michael gained widespread prominence in 1991 as the youngest and one of the first black general managers in professional football with the NFL's World League of American Football. Michael went on to hold the most senior position in the league reporting directly to a committee of NFL owners. Michael also sat on the Management Council Executive Committee, the College Advisory Committee, and as the senior member of the Committee on Minority Hiring.
Job Titles:
- Agent
- Head of European Football Operations
Miguel started playing football at the age of five years old, played until his late twenties for clubs SVV Sloterdijk, Neerlandia SLTO and AFC AJAX. Miguel had to stop due to an injury and therefore started to working as a player agent.
Miguel is an experienced player agent, with 14 years in the industry. He has done deals in almost all countries in Europe and South America. Through his time as player at AFC AJAX he has a multitude of key contacts in the football industry, from presidents, to directors to scouts.
Miguel is known for outstanding relations with every level and clubs from youth to first team in most of the countries in Europe as also in Brazil. Miguel's key = qualities and skills lie in an extensive knowledge of football, possessing a large international network, and, personal experience as an ex-football player. Miguel knows what it feels to be on the pitch and the importance of building relationships and to put people at ease with his approach. Miguel also has experience in managing a club and football school (Portugal and Brazil respectively).
After graduating with a BSc Sports & Exercise Science Degree, Montel quickly gained valuable experience coaching elite footballers across Europe under the wing of Anthony Aluko (Head of Performance Division). Montel aims to incorporate components of physical plyometric training alongside technical, mental and tactical analysis, offering a multifaceted approach to his specialised training. Additionally, Montel is a qualified CIMPSA Level 3 Personal Trainer working for Nuffield Health, his clients boast of his bespoke sessions and training plans tailored to each indivduals needs; with a focus on building strength and explosive power to match football specific needs, in order to elevate performance.
As the newest member of the General Sports team, Nelson has a wealth of sporting experience having played rugby at County level for Middlesex, as well as securing a place at both London Irish and Ealing Trailfinders Fast Track Academies. He also spent four years at Wasps colts winning consecutive championships at each age level. Nelson has an in-depth understanding of the statistical elements of player and team performance giving powerful insights into valuing and evaluating sports assets. A fluent multilingual, Nelson holds a BSc in Sports Health and Exercise Sciences from Brunel University and provides a unique connection to the company's client demographic of professional sportspeople.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel & COO of General Sports Europe
Heading up the GSW Boxing division, Nick has 25 years of experience in the sport, advertising and entertainment sectors. A qualified solicitor, Nick started his career at renowned international law firm Bird & Bird before joining media giant Clear Channel. Nick was Group Counsel to SFX Sports Group (now Wasserman Media Group) handling some of the highest profile and highest value football transfers in history as well as more than 200 commercial, sponsorship and broadcasting agreements. At Clear Channel Nick was a key legal and entrepreneurial commercial influence in its European business as well as retaining a position on the Board, being General Counsel, Property Director and holding various lead compliance roles. In 2017 Nick co-founded the 366 Sports Agency and led negotiations on 366's acquisition by Andrew Appleby's General Sports Worldwide in the summer of 2020. Nick is currently COO and General Counsel of General Sports driving the build out of the various global sports divisions whilst retaining his Football Intermediary license.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Executive Search and Team Consulting
Job Titles:
- Executive
- CEO of General Sports Europe
Sam is an executive with 20 years' experience in the sport and entertainment sector. A former professional rugby player with Saracens and qualified solicitor Sam has held the posts of COO at SFX Sports Group, President of international business at the Wasserman Media Group (WMG) and President & CEO of Derby County Football Club.
Sam has previously held long term roles as a board member of the Amateur Boxing Association and as Treasurer of the British Association for Sport and Law. Sam on two occasions has been named as one of the top 3 most influential agents in the world by Sport Business and over a period of many years as one of the top 50 most influential people in sport by the Times newspaper. Sam was voted by executives within English football as the CEO of the Year in the 2014/15 season.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Sponsorship Brokering
- Football Association As Sponsorship Manager
Stephen has over 25 years working in the sports industry, uniquely as a rights holder, sports agent and brand owner. He started his career working for the Coca-Cola Company in Europe in a number of brand marketing roles culminating his seven years as the regions Sponsorship Manager responsible for both football and music.
Following his passion for sport Stephen joined the Football Association as Sponsorship Manager for Euro 96, the hugely successful European Football Championships held in England, following that with the appointment as the EPLs first Commercial lead under football's iconic leader Rick Parry. During that period Curnow would oversee significant growth in the League's commercial revenue.
On leaving the EPL Stephen spent 6 successful years as Senior Vice President of Commercial for Benfield Sports, a new London based sports agency. During that period Stephen delivered 2 significant deals in motorsport, firstly Telefonica as title sponsor of the Suzuki MotoGP team and the establishment of the FIM Grand Prix Speedway Series.
Stephen was then headhunted to join the industry leading agency SFX Sports - to manage commercial income for the agency's 750 iconic athletes, and then staying on when the agency was acquired by Wasserman Media Group. During this period Stephen concluded a number of successful partnerships including Castrol, Umbro, Yahoo!, Intel, P&G and MSN.
More recently Stephen's sports experience has been as a Commercial Director in F1. During his 12 years in the sport he has presided over some of the most significant sponsorships including Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Unilever, BWT, NEC, American Movil and Diageo - establishing himself as one of the industries most experienced, creative and talented executives.
Thomas leads the General Sports Boxing division managing the growing stable of fighters with Co-Head Paul Smith. Thomas has significant experience in the boxing management business following a glittering amateur and professional career. Thomas Captained the GB Boxing team including names such as Anthony Joshua at the 2012 London Olympics while also claiming the prestigious title of Amateur Boxer of the Year. A former GB, European and Commonwealth Games champion Thomas brings all of his experience from the ring to the impressive roster of fighters he will now guide to British, European and World success.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Executive Vice President of Executive Search
Travis Apple is currently the Executive Vice President of Executive Search and Team Consulting for General Sports Worldwide. In this role he oversees recruiting efforts including interviewing and hiring, consulting, and runs sales and leadership training for many teams, companies, and entities in sports and entertainment.
Apple brings General Sports Worldwide 15 years of sports leadership experience, most recently as the Chief Revenue Officer for Event Dynamic. Prior to that he was Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service for the Miami Marlins (MLB) and Senior Director of Team Marketing and Business Operations (TMBO) where he oversaw ticketing for all of the NBA, WNBA, and G- League teams. He was also the Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service for the Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Rattlers (AFL), and Northern Arizona Suns (G-League). Prior to that, he was the Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Orlando Magic (NBA), and the Director of Business Development for the Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB). He began his career with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Atlanta Thrashers (NHL), and State Farm Arena.
Apple has a proven track record of success across multiple sports organizations and has an outstanding reputation in the sports and entertainment industry for identifying, training, and developing top talent. At each of the stops in his career he has assembled top notch sales teams to generate revenue regardless of team performance. In addition, Apple also has written a book Hustle Your Way to $ucce$$ in Sports Sales, hosts a weekly podcast 52 Weeks of Hustle where he sits down with industry leaders to discuss their career path and what it takes to be successful.