CEO of RWC 2015 Host Broadcaster ITV to Address ConfEx 2014

IRB World Rugby Conference and Exhibition 2014 (ConfEx) has announced that ITV Chief Executive Adam Crozier will join the speaker line-up to share his thoughts on the commercial importance of sport.

ITV, which holds the host broadcast rights for next year’s rugby showpiece, Rugby World Cup 2015, will lead a workshop on the power of sport at ConfEx, which is taking place on 17-18 November at Hilton London Metropole.

ITV has enjoyed a long-standing association with the Rugby World Cup, having broadcast every tournament since 1991. During his question and answer session Adam Crozier, as head of the network, will examine the fragmented media market and discuss how major events are becoming increasingly important to broadcasters hoping to attract big ratings and the associated commercial deals which go with them.

As well as being a successful businessman, Crozier is no stranger to the wider sporting community having led England’s Football Association (FA) as Chief Executive from 2000-2002. Following his tenure with the FA, the Scot went on to head up Britain’s Royal Mail before taking on his current role with ITV in 2010.

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: "Rugby World Cup 2015 will be the most viewed, connected engaged Rugby World Cup to date with more than 20,000 hours of broadcast programming reaching in excess of 200 territories. The strength of the Rugby World Cup brand, coupled with our commitment to innovate and ensure fan experience is paramount, enables us to strengthen the relationship with existing broadcast partners while attracting new broadcasters to the family."

"Rugby’s ability to grow globally is largely reliant on strong partnerships with media partners and we look forward to the insight that Adam Crozier will bring to the discussion on the changing media landscape as we work in partnership with ITV to deliver a spectacular Rugby World Cup 2015 viewing experience for fans."

ConfEx offers a dynamic platform to discuss, learn and create partnerships that will project Rugby’s values worldwide. Supporting the IRB’s mission to reach out to new markets around the globe, the vision of ConfEx is to empower the Rugby community and help it achieve ever-increasing heights of Rugby participation and excellence.

High-profile speakers confirmed for ConfEx include:

· Craig Reedie – International Olympic Committee Vice-President and World Anti-Doping Agency President

· Clive Woodward – Rugby World Cup-winning coach and former Lions coach

· Octavian Morariu – Rugby Europe President and International Olympic Committee member

· Heather Rabbatts – Football Association Director and Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Board

· Ronnie Flanagan – Chairman of the International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption and Security Unit

· Debbie Jevans – CEO of England Rugby 2015

· Dr Martin Raftery – IRB Chief Medical Officer

For further information about ConfEx, please go to: www.irb.com/confex. You can also join the conversation @IRBConfEx and #IRBConfEx.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CONFEX PROMO VIDEO>>

Further Information:

For media enquiries about the IRB World Rugby ConfEx, please contact:

Clair Ashley, VERO Communications, +44 207 812 6589 or +44 7889 866 697, email: cashley@verocom.co.uk.

For sponsorship information please contact:

Adam Barker, RedTorch, +44 207 036 8085, email: adam.barker@redtorch.co

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