Int’l sports marketing firm W sportsmedia CEO David Nilsson, whose company recently opened its head office in Stockholm, Sweden, said the new firm will have a broad mission with units dedicated to the sale of sponsorships and media rights, production and athlete representation. Nilsson, a former sponsorship exec at IEC in Sports, told SBD Global the new company will operate in the int’l sports business space through its four departments, W Athletes, W Events, W Productions and W Academy. Nilsson, who left the Lagardère-owned int’l sports marketing company to start W sportsmedia, said the new firm will continue to work with the projects and clients he had at IEC in Sports. “I’m taking my relationships in the business of sport and taking it to a separate entity,” Nilsson said. From media rights to events, Nilsson said the number of clients on the new firm’s list is already between 40 and 50. “We have been able to bring all our clients with us. So that’s a good situation. We’re taking our projects, our clients and our business into W sportsmedia,” Nilsson said. Among W sportsmedia’s clients are Red Bull, Eurosport and the World Fly Fishing Championship. Joining him from IEC in Sports is Head of Sponsorships Mari Haugli and Head of Events Erik Nilsson. Karel Jonák joins the firm from Czech Television to operate the W Productions department based in the Prague office, while former Swedish cross-country skier Oscar Svärd will take charge of the W Athletes department. Nilsson added that due to the nature of sports, the firm will employ additional staff on a seasonal basis throughout the year. Nilsson said he plans to open an additional office at a location yet to be announced.
JACK OF ALL TRADES: Nilsson’s vision for the new five-person management group is to tackle all aspects of the vast sports business landscape. “We will not specialize in a small part, but we will have a lot of different projects doing specific things,” Nilsson said. “We want to be the sport marketing firm that specializes in being very creative and innovative all across the sport value chain.” Nilsson said he hopes W sportsmedia can become a leader in sports innovation. “I think it’s important to evaluate the present time and see an evolution. I think that can be done in everything to take projects further. Like other businesses, sport follows trends. It can change. It’s a moving material.” The firm plans to announce upcoming projects and clients at the end of the summer.
