Shorts: Esports, Table Tennis, Sport Buff
Global esports tournament series BLAST Premier has appointed UK-based integrated marketing agency CSM Sport & Entertainment (CSM) as its sales agency of record.
BLAST Premier is a worldwide Counter-Strike tournament series where teams compete for a multi-million-dollar prize, with events taking place in the likes of London, Copenhagen, Miami and Sao Paulo.
CSM will work with BLAST Premier to identify and secure commercial partners that match the growth ambitions of the global tournament organiser.
Oliver Clarke, Commercial Director for BLAST Premier, said, “We are delighted to have CSM on board as our sales agency of record. With their growing influence in the world of esports, reinforced by years of experience working with major rights holders on their commercial strategies, we feel they are the perfect agency to help further develop and grow BLAST Premier’s global commercial portfolio.
“We have some exciting growth plans in the next 18 months, and we look forward to working with CSM to achieve these aims.”
The national governing body for table tennis in England, Table Tennis England, has unveiled its new strategy entitled Table Tennis United.
Table Tennis United sets out a series of targets across the breadth of the sport – from delivering success on the Olympic stage to strengthening clubs and leagues, getting more children playing table tennis in schools and increasing coaching standards.
Table Tennis England CEO, Adrian Christy, said, “I am confident the strategy speaks to the direction of travel that will see the creation of more opportunities for everyone; inspire and excite more people to fall in love with table tennis, regardless of their background; stronger clubs and leagues; greater and more meaningful engagement with members and fans; more and better developed coaches, officials and volunteers; more players and coaches coming through the pathway and medals at world and Olympic level to make the country proud.
“While we are delighted to launch the strategy, it is the actions that matter, and we know we cannot do this on our own. We need our stakeholders and partners to continue your incredible support and we need the table tennis community to rise up, to come together to be part of a table tennis nation.”
English Football League (EFL) Championship club Huddersfield Town has appointed Dave Baldwin as its new Managing Director.
The former EFL Chief Executive has worked in all four English divisions and replaces Dean Hoyle.
Baldwin has worked for The Terriers as a Strategic Advisor since May 2022. He will now oversee the day-to-day leadership of the club and will work alongside Hoyle in the search for the club’s next owner.
Prior to his involvement with the EFL Baldwin was Chief Executive Officer at Burnley FC where the club earned promotion to the Premier League in Baldwin’s first season and was named the Premier League CEO of the year at the Football Business Awards in 2018.
Baldwin said, “I appreciate Dean having the trust in me to protect the interests of the club as we enter an important period.”
Fan engagement and gamification company Sport Buff has announced that Simon Green will join as a shareholder of the company and sit on its board.
Most recently Green served as the Head of BT Sport, leaving the position in March 2022.
“I am delighted to join the team at Sport Buff at a time when the business is gaining traction with sporting bodies and broadcaster,” said Green.
“The search for editorially relevant and informative live digital engagement around sporting events is fast becoming a factor in how broadcasters connect with new audiences
“There’s far more to watching live sport now than sitting back and being a passive viewer and Sport Buff offers the opportunity for a longer and richer engagement of events in a way that will particularly appeal to younger fans.”
