From Madrid to the World: 10 Years Connecting the Football Industry
World Football Summit was born in Madrid in 2016, at a moment when football was beginning to change faster than the structures surrounding it. The industry was growing in scale, complexity and global reach, but its conversations remained fragmented. Clubs, leagues, federations, brands, investors and innovators were all moving in the same direction, yet rarely sharing the same room.
The idea behind WFS was simple: create a space where the entire football industry could come together and speak openly, across sectors, interests, and geographies. What started as a single event in Spain quickly revealed a clear reality. The industry was increasingly demanding a common platform where ideas could meet, be challenged, and move forward.
Over the years, that initial annual gathering in Madrid evolved into a global series of summits, expanding to new regions while keeping the same principle at its core: remain open, neutral, and inclusive. By giving the same relevance to established institutions and emerging players, to global organisations and specialised voices, this approach firmly established WFS’s credibility across the industry.
Today, World Football Summit is not defined by a single event or location. It is a global meeting point for the football industry, where connections translate into business growth and where the essence of the game remains central to that expansion.
Meet The team
Jan
Alessie
Cofunder & Managin Director
Jan
Alessie
I’m Co-Founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit, which I started with Marian Otamendi in 2016. I spend most of my time working with major brands and sports organisations to bring them into our events, and managing relationships with local partners and public administrations in each region where we operate. I also lead our international expansion—analysing markets, evaluating opportunities, deciding where to grow next. Before WFS, I spent 18 years as a consultant and strategic advisor.
Marian
Otamendi
CEO
Marian
Otamendi
I’m Co-Founder and CEO of World Football Summit, which I started with Jan Alessie in 2016. I run operations—managing budgets, teams, processes, making sure the business runs efficiently day to day. I also act as company spokesperson and handle institutional relationships with public administrations, governing bodies, and strategic partners. I studied History and Publishing, later did an Executive MBA at IE Business School. I also serve on the Board of El Grifo, the oldest winery in the Canary Islands.
Arantxa
Mandiola
Programme Director
Arantxa
Mandiola
I’m the Programme Director at World Football Summit. I lead the design and delivery of the event agenda: defining priority topics, identifying and securing speakers, structuring schedules, coordinating stage content, and ensuring strong speaker care before and during the event. With previous experience at UNESCO, Domestika, or the multi-award-winning The Silence of Others, I bring a multicultural perspective focused on building well-curated and impactful programmes and initiatives.
Paloma
F. Niembro
Project Director
Paloma
F. Niembro
I’m the Project Director at World Football Summit, where I manage our international events from start to finish. I coordinate teams across time zones, oversee production, work with local partners and suppliers, handle logistics and venue requirements, and make sure every detail is covered. I plan timelines, manage budgets, solve problems as they come up, and keep everyone aligned on what needs to happen and when. I’ve been organising events for 9 years across hospitality, tech, and conferences.
Cristina
Morena
Marketing Director
Cristina
Morena
I joined World Football Summit when it was one annual event and a small team doing everything—partnerships, marketing, operations, strategy. These days, I drive the marketing planning for all the events and projects, together with the strategy and implementation for revenue growth, and innovative engagement strategies that connect football professionals across continents. Before joining WFS, I worked in corporate marketing at British Telecom and Renfe.
Paco
Roche
Communications Director
Paco
Roche
I’m responsible for communicating what we do and making sure how we communicate, from the formats we use to the language we choose, reflects what we stand for. I also turn the knowledge generated at our events into content that delivers value to partners and keeps football professionals engaged year-round. Before WFS, I spent 20 years as a sports journalist, which gave me a view of how football works, from the pitch to the boardroom, and how it resonates with the different audiences.
Zayd
Shehadeh
Commercial Director
Zayd
Shehadeh
I’m the Partnerships Director at World Football Summit, leading commercial partnerships across the football ecosystem. My job is understanding what potential partners want to achieve, finding where that aligns with what WFS offers, and structuring agreements that deliver value over time. I’ve worked in sales, account management, research, and strategy. Outside of work, I’m into sports—playing them, watching them, snowboarding, staying active outdoors. It’s a good balance.
Jan
Alessie
Jan
Alessie
I’m Co-Founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit, which I started with Marian Otamendi in 2016. I spend most of my time working with major brands and sports organisations to bring them into our events, and managing relationships with local partners and public administrations in each region where we operate. I also lead our international expansion—analysing markets, evaluating opportunities, deciding where to grow next. Before WFS, I spent 18 years as a consultant and strategic advisor.
Marian
Otamendi
Marian
Otamendi
I’m Co-Founder and CEO of World Football Summit, which I started with Jan Alessie in 2016. I run operations—managing budgets, teams, processes, making sure the business runs efficiently day to day. I also act as company spokesperson and handle institutional relationships with public administrations, governing bodies, and strategic partners. I studied History and Publishing, later did an Executive MBA at IE Business School. I also serve on the Board of El Grifo, the oldest winery in the Canary Islands.
Arantxa
Mandiola
Arantxa
Mandiola
I’m the Programme Director at World Football Summit. I lead the design and delivery of the event agenda: defining priority topics, identifying and securing speakers, structuring schedules, coordinating stage content, and ensuring strong speaker care before and during the event. With previous experience at UNESCO, Domestika, or the multi-award-winning The Silence of Others, I bring a multicultural perspective focused on building well-curated and impactful programmes and initiatives.
Paloma
F. Niembro
Paloma
F. Niembro
I’m the Project Director at World Football Summit, where I manage our international events from start to finish. I coordinate teams across time zones, oversee production, work with local partners and suppliers, handle logistics and venue requirements, and make sure every detail is covered. I plan timelines, manage budgets, solve problems as they come up, and keep everyone aligned on what needs to happen and when. I’ve been organising events for 9 years across hospitality, tech, and conferences.
Cristina
Morena
Cristina
Morena
I joined World Football Summit when it was one annual event and a small team doing everything—partnerships, marketing, operations, strategy. These days, I drive the marketing planning for all the events and projects, together with the strategy and implementation for revenue growth, and innovative engagement strategies that connect football professionals across continents. Before joining WFS, I worked in corporate marketing at British Telecom and Renfe.
Paco
Roche
Paco
Roche
I’m responsible for communicating what we do and making sure how we communicate, from the formats we use to the language we choose, reflects what we stand for. I also turn the knowledge generated at our events into content that delivers value to partners and keeps football professionals engaged year-round. Before WFS, I spent 20 years as a sports journalist, which gave me a view of how football works, from the pitch to the boardroom, and how it resonates with the different audiences.
Zayd
Shehadeh
Zayd
Shehadeh
I’m the Partnerships Director at World Football Summit, leading commercial partnerships across the football ecosystem. My job is understanding what potential partners want to achieve, finding where that aligns with what WFS offers, and structuring agreements that deliver value over time. I’ve worked in sales, account management, research, and strategy. Outside of work, I’m into sports—playing them, watching them, snowboarding, staying active outdoors. It’s a good balance.
General Inquiries
For general questions about World Football Summit, our events, or the platform reach us at:
Partnership Inquiries
For brands, organisations, and institutions interested in partnering with WFS, send us an email at:
Media Inquiries
For press requests, interviews, and media-related information drop us a line at:
Press & Brand Resources
Official World Football Summit materials for media and institutional use.
Mission
To connect, inspire, and drive the global football industry forward by creating platforms for business, knowledge sharing, innovation, and purpose-driven impact.
Vision
To shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative football ecosystem by empowering professionals, fostering meaningful partnerships, and amplifying initiatives that leave a lasting legacy for the sport and society.
Values
We promote values that define our essence:
Connection, Innovation, Integrity, Purpose, Excellence, Community, Inclusion, and Sustainability.