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Forty Under 40: Fabian Stechel

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Ten years ago, Fabian Stechel was the first hire for Evolution Media Capital. His tenure even predated the company’s first client.

 

But things moved fast for the upstart with the help of a powerful partner in CAA and Stechel’s dynamic background. 

Managing Director, Evolution Media Capital

Age: 37

Born: Cologne, Germany

Education: Maastricht University, The Netherlands, M.S., international business; University of California, Berkeley, for study abroad

Family: Wife, Katey; children, three sons ages 8, 6, 3

What gets you fired up: Great concerts; beautifully executed sports plays.

Profession you’d most like to attempt: Medical doctor.

Guilty pleasure: Bacon.

Could not go a day without: A good laugh. 

Causes supported: Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF and Environment New York. 

Sports industry needs to do a better job of … : Promoting diversity.

Most thrilling/adventurous thing you’ve done: Swimming with sharks in the open ocean (no cage) in Fiji.

We’d be surprised to know that … : I backpacked around the world for half a year.


Today, Evolution Media has advised on more than $47 billion of transactions across the sports and media industries. That growth is one of the first things Stechel points to when asked about his tenure. “To be part of building the practice has really been the most rewarding experience,” he said. “Especially over the last few years where our business has accelerated even further.”

Stechel, who has individually negotiated and advised on more than $12 billion in sports media deals, has worked with the International Olympic Committee, Major League Soccer, the NHL, PGA Tour, Top Rank, Riot Games and others over the years to help take Evolution Media to new heights. Highlights of the past few years include helping Top Rank reach its media deal with ESPN, advising several Premier League teams on their digital strategy, and structuring the PGA of America’s long-term deal for the PGA Championship with CBS and ESPN. 

The German-born Stechel also credits aspects of his international background with helping him relate to different personalities across the industry. 

He enjoys the fast-paced atmosphere around negotiation, and no project that comes across his desk is the same. 

“The variety of the deals I get to work on is pretty unique and it’s something I really enjoy,” he said. “There’s various kinds of structures for media platforms and different sports, and that’s one of the aspects that sets this job apart. Each of the deals are unique and different, and that’s what makes it so interesting for me.”

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