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Zug, Switzerland/Milan, Italy – Effective on 20 June 2016, Marco Bogarelli will take over as Strategic Director for Wanda Sports Holding, while Luigi de Siervo will start his new role as CEO (Amministratore Delegato) of Infront Italy. Reporting directly into Wanda Sports Holding’s President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Bogarelli will contribute his in-depth knowledge of the sports business market with particular focus on additional key markets such as France, Spain and UK, searching for upcoming business opportunities. In his new role, he will also be responsible for anticipating trends in future media distribution and in the design of respective strategic concepts and proposals. Bogarelli will keep the role as Infront Italy's President in order to pledge continuity for the team, clients and partners.
Luigi de Siervo will complement the Infront Italy management team in the role of the new CEO, joining the company following a more than 20-year career in the industry, where he has held several leadership positions, focused on sales, business development and sport rights management. Most recently, he headed Rai Com SpA, a subsidiary of the Italian public-service broadcaster RAI, as CEO. The extended expertise of de Siervo into the media landscape will bring Infront Italy further skills to tackle new challenges. As new CEO of Infront Italy, he will build upon the existing portfolio and at the same time further diversify Infront’s strategy and business in Italy. In this role, he will be supported by the experienced Infront Italy team.
Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Wanda Sports Holding and Infront Sports & Media: “We welcome Luigi de Siervo as part of our global Infront top management team. He will contribute his proven experience and market know-how to successfully drive and further develop our business in Italy. Italy has always been and will remain a key market for us and – with our dedicated Infront Italy team – we will spare no effort contributing to a successful sports nation and building a sports legacy.”
He adds: “Given Marco Bogarelli’s more than 30 years’ international experience in media rights management and sports marketing, Wanda Sports Holding will tremendously benefit of his strategic view in order to build opportunities of growth in the sports business market. He is the right person to develop and strengthen Wanda Sports Holding and to face the ambitious plan of growth we have. He will bring in his in-depth-knowledge of the global sports media market on a strategic level, creating new business opportunities in key European markets and developing new strategic approaches to the global sports industry.”
Marco Bogarelli, designated Strategic Director for Wanda Sports Holding: “I am proud of being appointed Strategic Director for Wanda Sports Holding. As the world’s leading sports business entity, we need to be at the forefront of the market, innovating and thinking globally. In my new role I will be responsible for developing new business opportunities for the Group, contributing also a continuous strategic view in the media and digital landscape. Additionally, I can give my strategic support in key rights-in agreements, counting on my excellent network. While taking up my new role I am very pleased to see our Italian business being led in the future by such an experienced industry professional like Luigi de Siervo.”
Luigi de Siervo, designated CEO (Amministratore Delegato) of Infront Italy: “It is a great honour for me to join Infront, and contribute to the exciting growth journey that the broader Wanda Sports Holding is undertaking. The Italian market is among the most powerful sports business economies in Europe, with high potential across multiple sports. I look forward to further developing the Italian sports business landscape together with the strong team.”
About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media is the most respected sports marketing company in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production and event operation – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 170 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Holding, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.
About Wanda Sports Holding
Wanda Sports Holding is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.
