The future of sport defined

Freakonomics, published in 2005, was an instant international bestseller and cultural phenomenon. SuperFreakonomics followed to similar acclaim in 2009, and in 2010 a documentary film version of Freakonomics was chosen as the closing film of the Tribeca Film Festival. Think Like a Freak, published in 2014, immediately took up a long residency atop the international bestseller lists, and was followed by When to Rob a Bank, a collection of posts from the Freakonomics blog, which has been called “the most readable economics blog in the universe.”

Dubner has appeared widely on television, including as a regular contributor to ABC News and as host of the NFL Network’s Football Freakonomics, which was nominated for an Emmy.

His other books include Turbulent Souls (1998); Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper (2003), and the children’s book The Boy With Two Belly Buttons (2007). His journalism has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time, and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in The Best American Sports Writing, The Best American Crime Writing, and others.

The eighth and last child of an upstate New York newspaperman, Dubner has been writing for a long time. (His first published work appeared, at age 11, in Highlights magazine.) As an undergraduate at Appalachian State University, he started a rock band that was signed to Arista Records, which landed him in New York City. He ultimately quit playing music to earn an M.F.A. in writing at Columbia University, where he also taught in the English Department. He worked at New York Magazine and The New York Times before launching his book and radio career.

He lives in New York with his wife, the documentary photographer Ellen Binder, and their two children.

Faith Popcorn is the best-selling author of The Popcorn Report, Clicking, EVEolution, Dictionary of the Future, and the upcoming Popcorn Report 2020: A Leap of Faith. She is founder and CEO of Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve, the futurist marketing consultancy she established in 1974.  The New York Times has called her “The Trend Oracle,” Fortune named her, “The Nostradamus of Marketing,” and she is recognized as America’s foremost Trend expert.  She has identified such sweeping societal movements as “Cocooning,”  “AtmosFear,” “Anchoring,”  “99 Lives,” “Icon Toppling” and “Vigilante Consumer.”

As key strategist for Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve, Faith applies her insight into cultural and business Trends to help FPBR clients reposition established brands/companies, develop new models and innovate.  She is a trusted advisor to the CEOs of The Fortune 500 including such companies as American Express, Avon, Bayer, Calvert Group, Campbell’s Soup, Citigroup, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, KFC, Mars, SC Johnson, Tylenol and The United States Postal Service.

With a documented 95% accuracy rate, Faith predicted the demand for fresh foods and four-wheel drives, as well as the spiritual tenor of the millennium with Cocooning. She was the first to anticipate the explosive growth of home delivery, home businesses and home shopping.  Additionally, she predicted the rise of Social Media and has a significant following on Facebook and Twitter.  Her FutureView, which focuses on how trends are affecting consumer lifestyles and purchasing behavior, has been presented to thousands of audiences across the globe.

Heralded for her extraordinary ability to forecast emerging consumer patterns, Faith is frequently interviewed and cited in the media in The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, The Today Show, Face the Nation, and CNN. Faith was raised in Shanghai, China, is a fifth generation New Yorker, and a graduate of New York University and New York’s High School of Performing Arts.

Jimmy Pitaro was named Chairman, ESPN in February 2023, responsible for full operational control and financial responsibility for ESPN, one of the three core business segments of The Walt Disney Company.  This includes the management and supervision of the company’s full portfolio of sports content, products and experiences across all of Disney’s platforms worldwide, including its international sports channels, creative development, marketing, sales, distribution and technology.

This includes eight linear domestic networks, including ESPN and ESPN2; sports content across all Disney domestic and, going forward, international platforms; ESPN+; ESPN Audio; ESPN Digital; ESPN Social; ESPN Fantasy and a variety of owned sports events, among other responsibilities.

Previously, he was Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, since October 2020. He was named ESPN president and co-chair, Disney Media Networks, on March 5, 2018, after serving eight years as a top Disney executive.  In making the announcement, Bob Iger, then The Walt Disney Company chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Jimmy’s appointment was the result of more than 20 years spent at the intersection of technology, sports and media.”

Shay Segev is the CEO of DAZN Group, the world’s leading sports and entertainment platform. Headquartered in the UK and available in over 200 markets, DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sports.

DAZN is the leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, and Canada, with a strong presence in France, the US, and the UK.

Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most watched competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  DAZN is the global home of boxing and combat sports, offering the largest year-long schedule of blockbuster fights to fans around the world.

Shay has conceived and overseen the evolution of DAZN’s strategic focus, recruiting an impressive new leadership team from across the worlds of media, technology, entertainment, gaming and sport, while driving an ambitious growth and acquisition programme; using premium sports rights as an anchor to add other engaging and immersive content seamlessly into DAZN’s sports ecosystem.

Within its entertainment ecosystem, in 2022 DAZN launched a recreational betting product, an ecommerce offering, and a range of interactive features that augment the viewing experience and deliver a richer and more interactive experience for customers. In 2023 the pace of innovation and investment has increased. A ground-breaking deal with the NFL to deliver their Game Pass globally, a multi-territory channel partnership with Amazon Prime Video, the development of a in-app merchandise offer with Fanatics, and the launch of DAZN in France with Ligue 1 Uber Eats rights are just some of the highlights.

With much more to come, DAZN is unquestionably the most innovative company in this space and will soon become the ultimate destination for sports fans, globally.

Nick Khan is the President of WWE, part of a publicly traded (NYSE: TKO) global media company.

Prior to joining WWE, Khan was the Co-Head of Television at CAA where he represented the biggest names and entities in sports media negotiating billions of dollars in media rights deals.

Khan joined WWE in 2020 as President & Chief Revenue Officer and helped lead the company to record revenue and profitability in 2021 and 2022. Khan began his career as a practicing attorney.”

In January 2021, Brett joined the NFL in the newly created position of Head of Europe. This followed 9 years as CEO of World Rugby.

Brett’s role is to oversee the acceleration of NFL fan growth and revenues across Europe. This involves strategic and operational management across marketing, sponsorship, broadcast as well as the staging of NFL International Games in London and Germany, with related ticketing, hospitality, and event management.

Formerly, as Chief Executive of World Rugby and Rugby World Cup, Brett was responsible for the strategic and business operations of rugby’s global governing federation. Brett oversaw the implementation of World Rugby’s global investment, development and player welfare strategies, the delivery of record-breaking Men’s Rugby World Cups; 2015 in England and 2019 in Japan, the growth of the HSBC men and Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series, the step change acceleration of women in rugby’s governance and rugby’s successful return to the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.

Prior to his role at World Rugby, Brett held leadership roles with major international marketing services companies in Paris, Frankfurt, London and New York. This included CEO Havas UK, CEO TBWA New York, CEO of the largest US advertising agency; McCann New York and more recently as CEO McCann Europe/Middle East/Africa.

Brett was appointed as an expert panelist on the 2023 UK Government’s Review of Women’s Football, Chaired by Karen Carney.

Brett is the independent member of the ATP’s (Association Of Tennis Professionals) newly formed Tournament Standards Committee.

Brett was formerly an elite level rugby player in Australia and later in France with Paris based Racing 92 for 8 seasons.

Alice Mascia has 20 years’ valuable experience in the media and telco industries. She has a proven record of launching new business, products, and brands. As recognised international executive, she has led on M&As, business transformation and business strategy and execution. Previously, she held senior roles at Foxtel Group and at Sky Deutschland before joining DAZN in spring 2022 as the new CEO for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Her career also took her to Sky Italy and to Accenture as a strategy consultant.

Mark Lazarus is Chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group, overseeing the company’s TV and Streaming platforms, distribution, and monetization. His purview includes television networks — NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, SYFY, USA Network, Universal Kids — and international networks in addition to the Direct-to-Consumer business, including Peacock, NBC Sports Group, NBC affiliate relations, content distribution and advertising sales. Prior to his current role, Lazarus served as Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where he was also responsible for the company’s television networks and international networks, Direct-to-Consumer businesses, NBC Sports Group, owned television stations and NBC affiliate relations.

Previously, Lazarus was Chairman, NBCUniversal Broadcast, Entertainment and Lifestyle Group, Sports and News, where he led most of the company’s East Coast-based content businesses, including the Entertainment and Lifestyle Group, NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. Additionally he oversaw the NBC Sports Group (since 2011), NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations and NBC Affiliate Relations (since 2016). Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Lazarus was President of Media and Marketing at CSE and previously served as President of Turner Entertainment Group. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Lazarus is on the Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and serves on the Board of Directors for the East Lake Foundation and Hilton Grand Vacations.

Mark Shapiro is President and COO of Endeavor (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company comprised of industry leaders including entertainment agency WME; sports, fashion, events and media company IMG; and premier mixed martial arts organization UFC. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation, sports operations & advisory, event & experiences management, media production & distribution, experiential marketing and brand licensing.

Prior to joining the company in 2014, Shapiro was CEO of Dick Clark Productions (dcp), managing its day-to-day operations while developing and producing high-quality entertainment programming for traditional and digital media. Previously, Shapiro served as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, where he energized and re-invented the Six Flags brand as the world’s largest regional theme park company. Shapiro began his career at ESPN, where he oversaw both production and programming and led the creation of sports and entertainment properties that helped build ESPN into one of the world’s strongest multi-media brands, earning 16 Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards during his tenure.

Shapiro serves on the board of directors of Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR), and The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. He also serves as the Chairman of Captivate Network, a privately held digital media company co-owned by Generation Partners.

Additionally, Shapiro is a minority owner of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), the MLS franchise that debuted in 2018.

Shapiro was awarded the Excellence in Sports Journalism Award from Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society in 1999 for his work at ESPN, and in 2003 was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Rising Stars. In 2004, he ranked among the Top Ten in Sporting News’ Power 100 for the second consecutive year before being named to SportsBusiness Journal’s 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2016, Shapiro was named to Variety’s New York Power List and by Broadcasting & Cable as Sports Executive of the Year. In 2021, SportsBusiness Journal named him to its “Most Influential: Dealmakers” list.

Shapiro is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is based in New York.

Barney has a 27 year career in broadcasting and content with over 2 decades at Sky as well as spells at BBC and ITV.

Began as a Junior Researcher at ITV before joining Sky Sports as an Assistant Producer 2 years later in 1996. Went to the BBC in 1998 to create new sports programming before returning to Sky in 1999 for the Cricket World Cup in England. Spent the next 11 years in various Production roles including Executive Producer, Cricket (2000-2007) and Executive Producer, Premier League (2007-2008) before becoming Managing Director in 2009 and a place on Sky’s senior Executive Leadership team.

Transformed Sky Sports from 4 channels to 11, adding such premium rights as F1, The Open, The Masters and NBA to the portfolio as well as securing 3 x Premier League renewals, 3 x EFL renewals and 3 x ECB renewals in the face of increased competition. Also restructured Boxing alongside Matchroom with a strategy that led to the reintroduction of PPV, creating £250m+ in additional revenue.

Scott Galloway is Professor of Marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business and a serial entrepreneur. He was named one of the world’s best business professors by Poets & Quants. Scott has founded nine companies, including Prophet, RedEnvelope, L2, and Section School, where he also teaches. He is the New York Times–bestselling author of The Four, The Algebra of Happiness, Post Corona and Adrift: America in 100 Charts. Scott has served on the boards of directors of The New York Times Company, Urban Outfitters, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Panera Bread, and Ledger. Across his Prof G and Pivot podcasts, No Mercy / No Malice newsletter, and his YouTube channel, Scott reaches millions. He has won multiple Webby and Best Podcast awards, and his books have been translated into 28 languages.

Former British No. 1, World No. 4 and 6 x Grand Slam semi-finalist

Tim has established himself as one of the most popular sporting personalities in the UK and continues to remain at the forefront of elite sport in various roles. A member of the AELTC Committee of Management, Tim is also a key presenter and expert analysist for the BBC, Amazon Prime and Eurosport. Tim founded his own charity, the Tim Henman Foundation in 2000, with a mission of transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people by improving mental, as well as physical health, and creating sporting and educational opportunities.