Dame Heather Rabbatts launches Women's Sports Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Women’s Sports Group (WSG) set to drive profile, support and value to advance the global rise of women’s sport

London, UK; 8 October 2019

Dame Heather Rabbatts, DBE, Chair of strategic communications agency Vero Communications, has announced the launch of the Women’s Sports Group - a new sports partnership aimed at creating compelling opportunities to promote, enhance and empower women’s sport within the evolving sporting landscape.

Focused on three core streams - strategic communications counsel, media rights management and partnership development - the Women’s Sports Group hopes to drive even greater profile, support and value in women’s sport, in order to grow audiences and increase investment in this emerging market.

With an extensive track record working across sport, including as The Football Association’s first female non-executive Director and Board member from 2012 – 2017 and as a former member of FIFA’s Anti-Discrimination Taskforce, Rabbatts is a leading figure within the industry and a long-time champion of equal rights.

She will be joined by David Kogan, OBE, renowned media rights consultant and Co Founder of Reel Enterprises, who oversaw over £20 billion of sports rights sales, including for the Premier League, Football League, UEFA, Premier Rugby, Six Nations and the NFL.

The Women’s Sports Group will be closely aligned with leading strategic communications agency Vero Communications, which has an enviable track record of success with over ten years’ experience working in the business of sport. It also has substantial experience and knowledge helping drive the profile of women’s sport. In addition to its current work on Football Federation Australia’s bid for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Vero has provided expert advice and support across a number of gender diverse global campaigns including UEFA’s Equal Game and World Rugby’s Unstoppables.

The Women’s Sports Group has been established at a time when women’s sport is experiencing huge growth worldwide. One billion viewers tuned into this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, while a 2018 Nielsen study found that 80% of general sports fans in countries surveyed are now fully engaged with women’s sport. Despite this women’s sport remains largely undervalued with women’s sports sponsorship accounting for just 1% of total sports sponsorship globally and standalone media rights deals few and far between. By driving even greater growth and value in the market, the Women’s Sports Group will help realise the untapped potential and true worth of women’s sport through an integrated and tailored approach.

Dame Heather Rabbatts, DBE, said:

"This is a pivotal moment in women’s sport. With rapidly rising participation, attendance and viewing audiences it’s a crucial time to elevate women’s sport to the next level and advance gender balance across the industry. We’re a unique offering, that’s bringing together industry experts with the passion, drive and expertise to raise the profile of, drive value in and ultimately empower women’s sport."

David Kogan, OBE, said:

"Women’s sport is at a tipping point. From a media rights perspective it is currently hugely underdeveloped. The Women’s Sports Group will focus on establishing women’s sport as its own economic driver by selling rights on a standalone basis and ensuring women’s sport gets the platform it needs and rightfully deserves. We are ambitious in our approach and are determined to work with national and international federations, competition owners and sports rights holders to create compelling opportunities and help level the playing field for women’s sport."

For more information on the Women’s Sport Group, visit www.womenssportsgroup.com

-ENDS-

About the Women’s Sport Group – empowering women’s sport

The Women’s Sports Group [WSG] is a specialist sports partnership that aims to advance the global rise of women’s sport by providing bespoke services to drive profile, support and value, including: strategic communications, media rights management and partnership development.

Founded by Dame Heather Rabbatts, the Group is aligned to prominent sports communications agency Vero Communications, a market leader in the business of sport, of which she is also Chair.

The Women’s Sports Group recognises the huge potential growth of the women’s sports market, which is currently significantly undervalued and – together with media rights expert David Kogan OBE – it is determined to address the existing inequality and bring about greater gender balance in sport.

Visit the website: www.womenssportsgroup.com

Follow on Twitter: @WSportsGroup

About Vero Communications

Vero’s mission is to provide expert communications services to UK and international sports clubs, governing bodies, world-class athletes, sports business leaders, major event bidders, governments and global brands

Vero has an enviable track-record of success winning major sports events bids and elections and helping international sports organisations and figures deliver compelling campaigns, enhance their reputations and connect with their audiences

Client highlights include Paris 2024, Pyeongchang 2018, Buenos Aires 2018 and Rio 2016 Olympic bids, Gianni Infantino’s election as FIFA President and Seb Coe’s election as IAAF President, as well as campaigns such as UEFA’s Equal Game and World Rugby’s Unstoppables.

Visit the website: www.verocom.co.uk

Follow on Twitter: @verosport

For more information please contact:

Amelia Fisher-Starzynski

Vero Communications

Afisher-starzynski@verocom.co.uk

Ph. +44 (0) 203 980 9610 or +44 (0) 7557 418 187

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