Csm Enters US Soccer Market
CSM Sport & Entertainment (CSM) has launched CSM Soccer, a new North America offering that aims to spearhead the organisation’s move into the rapidly growing market.
Based in New York, CSM Soccer will be headed by USA soccer industry expert Gary Hopkins who will take on the role of president and chief operating officer.
Hopkins said: “The opportunity to bring the global expertise, knowledge and resources of CSM to the US Soccer market is a very exciting one.
“I have been fortunate to have been involved in the growth of soccer in the USA for over 25 years and have watched it emerge from a fledgling niche ‘game’ into one of the USA’s foremost sports properties, fully embedded in the cultural fabric of American society.”
Speaking on the growth of soccer in the US, Hopkins added: “The last 20 years have been both formative and exciting for the sport, but I believe the next 20 will be explosive and transformational.”
CSM Group CEO Zak Brown, commented: “The US soccer market represents a wealth of opportunities for a business such as ours, and we are absolutely thrilled to have Gary on board to lead our CSM soccer offering.
“This appointment is set to bolster CSM’s footprint in the USA, joining JMI and SJX Partners, two market leading agencies within the CSM group.”
This new move coincides with the establishment of CSM agencies, ICON and Sportseen, opening a permanent presence in North America.
ICON will help clients in the region bring brands to life, with Sportseen, the specialist sales arm, to help serve its growing roster of clients across the Americas region.
Sebastian Coe, CSM’s executive chairman was in New York for the launch (pictured above) and hosted a sporting lunch with Danny Lopez, British Consul General at the British Consulate.
