CAA Sports announces Portas Consulting acquisition

CAA Sports, a division of entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), has announced that it has agreed to a deal to acquire Portas Consulting, a global management consulting firm, subject to customary regulatory approval.

Executive Chairman and Founder David Portas and Managing Partner Donal McElwee, along with their team of 160 consultants and staff who have completed projects in more than 40 countries worldwide, will join the agency following the deal.

With key offices in London, Riyadh, Dubai, and Singapore, the sports consultancy, which will be rebranded to CAA Portas, collaborates with governments, federations, Olympic committees, leagues, clubs, investors, Ministers, Boards, C-suite executives, senior sports leaders and private sector organisations to ‘develop strategies that improve performance, enhance participation, optimise governance, and drive commercial growth.’

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Paul Danforth, CAA Managing Director and President, CAA Sports, said, “The global sports marketplace is evolving rapidly, creating unprecedented opportunities for the agency and our clients in both established and emerging markets. As CAA Sports continues its international growth plan, we remain focused on creating new service offerings that we can deliver to clients to accelerate their business objectives.

“Portas Consulting is a best-in-class management consultancy, whose likeminded leadership and collaborative approach to client service will fit seamlessly into the CAA Sports ecosystem. By adding this unique expertise to our already robust suite of services, we are uniquely positioned to help shape the future of the global sports industry.”

Founded in 2006, Portas Consulting ‘provides its clients in the sector with a tailored and specialist service and deeper subject matter expertise than generalist management consultancies.’

Donal McElwee, Managing Partner, Portas Consulting, added, “Portas’ mission is to transform the world through sport. We have grown organically by 30% annually throughout the last 10 years to become the leading independent advisor to senior leaders in sport. Our new goal is to expand even faster to create a world leading end-to-end advisory business. CAA Sports is the ideal fit to achieve this growth and diversification for the benefit of the industry, our clients, and our people.”