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World Surf League Naming Industry Vet Sophie Goldschmidt As New CEO

World Surf League has tapped CSM Sport & Entertainment Group Managing Dir SOPHIE GOLDSCHMIDT as CEO, taking over for board member and interim CEO DIRK ZIFF. Goldschmidt, an ’11 SBJ Forty Under 40 awardee and industry veteran with prior stints at the NBA and WTA, will officially be named to the position this afternoon and will start next month. She will relocate from London to Santa Monica as part of the move. WSL Holdings, which owns the league, is charging Goldschmidt with driving the WSL to new heights as it eyes opportunities like digital and social media growth; global expansion (surfing joins the Olympic program at the ’20 Tokyo Games); corporate sponsorship growth; and utilizing new technology like the man-made wave company the league bought last year. One of Goldschmidt's first orders of business figures to be whether to extend its digital streaming deal with Facebook Live, which had a one-year partnership with the league for the ’17 season. Goldschmidt while at CSM was charged with driving new business initiatives and managing brand marketing. She said of the appointment, “Once I understood the scope and opportunity that the WSL has, it really was a no-brainer. I think the sport is primed to do amazing things. ... You look at the opportunity for the sport to become more and more about lifestyle and as the world becomes more about experiences, I think surfing fit right into the sweet spot of where elite sport transcends into the lifestyle sector. That made it incredibly interesting and different from what I’ve done previously.” Goldschmidt joined CSM in March '16 after spending nearly five years at the Rugby Football Union.

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