IMG Consulting To Handle Visa Sports Marketing, Including Olympics, World Cup, NFL

IMG Consulting has triumphed in one of the largest and most-scrutinized agency shootouts of '14, winning a review to handle Visa’s sports marketing activities consolidated across its biggest properties. Those larger properties include Visa's IOC TOP sponsorship, the FIFA World Cup and NFL rights. Those marketing responsibilities had been split between multiple agencies, including GMR, IMG and Team Epic. Sources said that those incumbent shops, along with Lagardère Unlimited and a Brazilian sports agency, participated in the review, which included Visa’s sports properties, culinary events and other happenings for holders of the top-shelf Visa Signature card. Sources said that competing agencies were informed of the decision Friday. Visa Senior VP/Global Brand, Product & Sponsorship Marketing Ricardo Fort was the ultimate decision-maker. IMG Consulting officials did not return phone calls seeking comment. The Visa business is IMG's biggest win since its $2.37B acquisition by William Morris Endeavor was finalized in May.