Meet the leaders joining WFS Madrid 2025
Influential decision-makers gathered to design the football we need.
Confirmed speakers at WFS Madrid 2025
Confirmed speakers at
WFS Madrid 2025
Grace
Ahrens
Executive Director – Women in Soccer
Grace
Ahrens
Grace Ahrens is the Executive Director of Women in Soccer, an organization committed to creating opportunities for women and people with underrepresented gender identities who work (or want to work) in soccer. Growing up in Mexico and with over 10 years of experience in workforce development, branding and media, she brings a deep understanding of diversity and expertise in driving inclusive solutions.
Shayne
Allise
Founder & CEO – 3XV Sports
Shayne
Allise
Shayne Allise, a former pro athlete and founder of 3XV Sports, earned USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals by 25. Early on, she secured sponsorships by mailing photos and letters to brands. Her journey across the US, Europe, and the Middle East exposed inequities in sport, inspiring her to launch 3XV to empower future athletes and challenge traditional power structures.
Razan
Amoush
Football reporter and senior producer – Independent
Razan
Amoush
Razan is a seasoned football reporter and producer with over a decade of experience in the industry. Holding a Master’s degree in Public Policy, she brings a unique perspective to sports journalism, combining analytical skills with her passion for storytelling. Her love for football began before she even watched cartoons, shaping a lifelong dedication to the sport. Razan has worked extensively with international players, creating compelling content that showcases their journeys both on and off the pitch.
Greg
Baker
Chief Revenue Officer – Southampton Football Club
Greg
Baker
Greg Baker is currently Chief Revenue Officer at Southampton Football Club, leading the club’s Commercial teams, delivering their Ticketing, Hospitality, Catering & Events, Commercial Partnerships, Football Partnerships, Marketing, Content and Digital functions. A lifelong fan of the club, he has been with Saints for more than a decade, with the majority of that time spent as Chief Executive Officer of Saints Foundation, the club’s charity.
Greg
Bettinelli
Partner – The Chernin Group
Greg
Bettinelli
Greg Bettinelli is a Partner at TCG, investing in sports, media, and passion-led brands. Formerly at Upfront Ventures, he backed companies like GOAT and ThredUp. He was CMO at HauteLook (acquired by Nordstrom), held executive roles at Live Nation, and led StubHub’s acquisition while at eBay. He sits on several boards and holds a BA from the University of San Diego and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Michael
Broughton
Sports Industry Consultant & Advisor
Michael
Broughton
“For over two decades Michael has worked across the top levels of sports, media, and technology. In addition to his role as an OTT Sports principal and co-host, he is also a partner at Acceleration Equity, based in London. He has served as a senior executive at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, responsible for its strategic relationships and investment strategy with big data and tech companies globally, while also supporting its emerging Gaming and eSports group.”
Carlos
Canto
CEO – SPSG Consulting
Carlos
Canto
Carlos Cantó has over 30 years of experience in sports and entertainment. Former VP at IMG and Lagardère Sports, he founded SPSG Consulting in 2016. He serves on the boards of AMKT and BStadium, was a board member at RC Deportivo, and teaches at ESADE, IE, and LALIGA Business School. He holds a BBA and MBA from ESADE and studied at HEC Paris through CEMS.
Fernando
Carro
CEO – Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH
Fernando
Carro
Fernando Carro has been CEO of Bayer 04 Leverkusen since 2018, leading the club to its first Bundesliga title in 2024, along with the DFB Cup, Supercup, and a Europa League final. He represents the Bundesliga as an ECA board member, sits on Bundesliga International’s supervisory board, and contributes to UEFA committees. Previously, he spent 24 years at Bertelsmann, including as CEO of Arvato, and served as international president of AIESEC.
Teresa
Carvi
Production Manager Director – Mediapro
Teresa
Carvi
I am a Produccion Manager and purpose-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in the sports media industry. As Head of Production at LaLiga’s international channel, I’ve led teams and projects that bring football’s emotion and complexity to the screen with creativity and coherence. My journey has expanded beyond production into exploring how sport, especially football, can become a platform for transformation: raising awareness, promoting ethical leadership, and reconnecting us with values that matter.
Valentín
Díaz
President – VISIT BUE
Valentín
Díaz
Valentín Díaz Gilligan currently work as President at the Ente de Turismo and Visit Buenos Aires of the City of Buenos Aires. He also holds the position of President of International Relations and Board Member (Vocal) at Club Atlético River Plate. In the private sector, he has worked for the Techint Organization, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Grupo Insud, and has participated in projects within the tourism industry.
Kristian
Dobrev
Deputy CEO – The Football Business Academy
Kristian
Dobrev
As Co-Founder and Deputy CEO of The FBA, Kristian has focused on using education as a platform to accelerate the professionalization of the football industry. With nearly 100 partnerships and hundreds of learners impacted, he and his team have positioned The FBA as a global leader in football business education.
Ricardo
Fort
Founder – Sport By Fort Consulting
Ricardo
Fort
Ricardo Fort is one of the most respected names in the global sponsorship business. As the only executive to lead the Global Sponsorship Departments of two FIFA and IOC sponsors – Visa and Coca-Cola – he successfully negotiated billions of dollars in sponsorship contracts with the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, athletes, the NFL, Formula 1 and Formula 1 teams, and many other worldwide sports and entertainment properties.
Ben
Jacobs
Sports Broadcaster – TalkSPORT
Ben
Jacobs
Sports journalist with talkSPORT and GiveMeSport.
Lise
Klaveness
Football President – Norwegian Football Association
Lise
Klaveness
During a 14-year professional career, Lise Klaveness earned 73 caps for Norway and finished as a runner-up at UEFA Women’s EURO 2005. She also helped Swedish club Umeå FC reach the 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup final. While playing, she earned a master’s degree in law, subsequently working as an assistant judge in the Oslo district court and as a special adviser to Norway’s central bank.A return to football came in 2018 when Klaveness was named technical director at the Football Association of Norway (NFF).
Kike
Levy
Head of NJF Sports & Media
Kike
Levy
Kike Levy is an entrepreneur and sports media executive with over a decade of experience at the forefront of the sports, media, and technology intersection. He is currently leading NJF Sports and Media, a pioneering sports investment firm that connects visionary entrepreneurs, investors, and sports properties to redefine the industry.
Rafael
Louzán
President – Real Federación Española de Fútbol
Rafael
Louzán
Rafael Louzán Abal has been President of the RFEF since December 2024, after a decade leading the Royal Galician Football Federation. Known for his expertise in sports management, he drove the modernization and digital transformation of the Galician federation, significantly increasing its asset value. Earlier in his career, Louzán worked in public administration, bringing governance experience to his leadership in Spanish football.
Jovin
Matovu
Chief Commercial Officer – Uganda Premier League
Jovin
Matovu
Matovu Jovin is the Chief Commercial Officer of the Uganda Premier League, where he oversees broadcast sales, sponsorships, and strategic commercial partnerships to drive the growth of Uganda’s top-tier football competition. With a strong background in media and advertising, he previously served as Business Manager at Nation Media Group, where he led commercial operations across multiple platforms.
Maheta
Molango
Chairman – PFA
Maheta
Molango
Maheta Molango is Chief Executive of the PFA, representing footballers in England. A former pro who played for Atlético Madrid, Brighton, Lincoln, Oldham, and Wrexham, he later became a top sports lawyer, advising stars like Antoine Griezmann and Mesut Özil. Fluent in five languages, he was twice ranked among Spain’s best sports lawyers. In 2016 he became CEO of RCD Mallorca, and in July 2021 was appointed to lead the PFA.
Peter
Moore
Owner – Santa Barbara Sky Football club
Peter
Moore
Currently the Owner of Santa Barbara Sky Football Club, Peter Moore brings his vast experience from many leadership roles in major sports and entertainment brands like Liverpool FC, EA Sports, etc to the local football scene. His passion now lies in building a successful and community-focused club.
Óscar
Ocaña
Chief Marketing Officer – PRISA MEDIA
Óscar
Ocaña
Oscar is CMO at PRISA Media, the largest Spanish-language media group. With a degree from CUNEF and a Master in Marketing Strategy from the University of Sydney, he built his career at Diageo, becoming Marketing Director for Johnnie Walker in Europe. He later served as CEO of FCB&FiRe and co-founded a TV documentary company. He’s also President and Co-founder of Best Buddies Spain, supporting youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Vasily
Odintsov
CFO – FC Zenit
Vasily
Odintsov
Big4 experience before sports
Pedro
Pinto
CEO – Empower Sports
Pedro
Pinto
I am the founder and CEO of a sports communications agency called Empower Sports. We advise athletes, coaches, clubs, sports organisations and brands on communications, PR and digital content. I currently also work with ELEVEN in Portugal, as a presenter and executive producer of content.
Before starting my own business, I worked in the sporting industry for 20 years as a journalist, broadcaster and communications director, mostly with CNN and UEFA respectively.
Grant
Russell
Marketing Lead – West Ham United Football Club
Grant
Russell
Grant specialises in growing sports properties through brand, marketing and storytelling strategies. He is currently with West Ham United in the English Premier League, focusing on expanding the club’s supporter base and revenue streams, both locally and internationally. Additionally, Grant has provided advisory services to teams and players in other major European leagues.
Dimitrios
Sakellaris
Founder & CEO – Statathlon
Dimitrios
Sakellaris
Dimitrios Sakellaris is the CEO and co-founder of Statathlon, a pioneering company in sports analytics and AI, specializing in injury prevention and performance optimization for elite football and basketball. Under his leadership, Statathlon has partnered with some of the biggest clubs and federations in Europe, contributing to European championship titles and shaping the future of data-driven decision-making in elite sport.
Raúl
Sanllehí
President of Football Operations – Inter Miami CF
Raúl
Sanllehí
Raúl Sanllehí, with nearly 30 years in football leadership, is President of Football Operations at Inter Miami CF. He began at Nike before joining FC Barcelona, where as Director of Football he contributed to one of the club’s golden eras. Later, he became Arsenal’s Head of Football, overseeing operations and strategy. From 2022–2024, he served as CEO of Real Zaragoza. In July 2024, he brought his global expertise to MLS with Inter Miami.
Nozibusiso
Sibiya
TV, Radio and Multimedia Journalist – SABC Sport
Nozibusiso
Sibiya
Nozibusiso Sibiya is an accomplished multimedia, radio, and TV sports journalist with a passion for storytelling. She studied journalism at the Durban University of Technology and began her career with Cosmopolitan Magazine. Nozibusiso excels in connecting with audiences through various platforms, including content creation on Instagram, as well as MC’ing, moderating, and speaking at high-profile events. Notably, she was the only Africa-based journalist to contribute to Manchester United’s 2019/20 yearbook.
Zubair
Timol
Partner & Global Vice President, Culture- Meltwater
Zubair
Timol
Zubair Timol brings a diversified background in tech, communications, consulting, law, sports, and luxury. With a career spanning multiple continents—including stints in Singapore, Amsterdam, and Cape Town—Zubair has cultivated a deep understanding of global business dynamics. He is particularly skilled in nurturing high-performance teams and driving strategic, culturally attuned commercial solutions for a range of clients, from emerging startups to established Fortune 500 companies.
Ion
Vilcu
Director, Affiliate Members and Public-Private Collaboration Department – UN Tourism
Ion
Vilcu
Ambassador Ion Vilcu has served since 2018 as Director of Affiliate Members & Public-Private Collaboration at UN Tourism. A Romanian career diplomat, he was Ambassador to Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile, and previously Secretary of State and Head of Protocol of Romania. From 2011–2016, he was Romania’s Permanent Representative to UNWTO. He also teaches International Relations at Nebrija University in Madrid and is fluent in Spanish, English, and Romanian.
Grace
Ahrens
Executive Director – Women in Soccer
Grace
Ahrens
Grace Ahrens is the Executive Director of Women in Soccer, an organization committed to creating opportunities for women and people with underrepresented gender identities who work (or want to work) in soccer. Growing up in Mexico and with over 10 years of experience in workforce development, branding and media, she brings a deep understanding of diversity and expertise in driving inclusive solutions.
Shayne
Allise
Founder & CEO – 3XV Sports
Shayne
Allise
Shayne Allise, a former pro athlete and founder of 3XV Sports, earned USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals by 25. Early on, she secured sponsorships by mailing photos and letters to brands. Her journey across the US, Europe, and the Middle East exposed inequities in sport, inspiring her to launch 3XV to empower future athletes and challenge traditional power structures.
Razan
Amoush
Football reporter and senior producer – Independent
Razan
Amoush
Razan is a seasoned football reporter and producer with over a decade of experience in the industry. Holding a Master’s degree in Public Policy, she brings a unique perspective to sports journalism, combining analytical skills with her passion for storytelling. Her love for football began before she even watched cartoons, shaping a lifelong dedication to the sport. Razan has worked extensively with international players, creating compelling content that showcases their journeys both on and off the pitch.
Greg
Baker
Chief Revenue Officer – Southampton Football Club
Greg
Baker
Greg Baker is currently Chief Revenue Officer at Southampton Football Club, leading the club’s Commercial teams, delivering their Ticketing, Hospitality, Catering & Events, Commercial Partnerships, Football Partnerships, Marketing, Content and Digital functions. A lifelong fan of the club, he has been with Saints for more than a decade, with the majority of that time spent as Chief Executive Officer of Saints Foundation, the club’s charity.
Greg
Bettinelli
Partner – The Chernin Group
Greg
Bettinelli
Greg Bettinelli is a Partner at TCG, investing in sports, media, and passion-led brands. Formerly at Upfront Ventures, he backed companies like GOAT and ThredUp. He was CMO at HauteLook (acquired by Nordstrom), held executive roles at Live Nation, and led StubHub’s acquisition while at eBay. He sits on several boards and holds a BA from the University of San Diego and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Michael
Broughton
Sports Industry Consultant & Advisor
Michael
Broughton
“For over two decades Michael has worked across the top levels of sports, media, and technology. In addition to his role as an OTT Sports principal and co-host, he is also a partner at Acceleration Equity, based in London. He has served as a senior executive at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, responsible for its strategic relationships and investment strategy with big data and tech companies globally, while also supporting its emerging Gaming and eSports group.”
Carlos
Canto
CEO – SPSG Consulting
Carlos
Canto
Carlos Cantó has over 30 years of experience in sports and entertainment. Former VP at IMG and Lagardère Sports, he founded SPSG Consulting in 2016. He serves on the boards of AMKT and BStadium, was a board member at RC Deportivo, and teaches at ESADE, IE, and LALIGA Business School. He holds a BBA and MBA from ESADE and studied at HEC Paris through CEMS.
Fernando
Carro
CEO – Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH
Fernando
Carro
Fernando Carro has been CEO of Bayer 04 Leverkusen since 2018, leading the club to its first Bundesliga title in 2024, along with the DFB Cup, Supercup, and a Europa League final. He represents the Bundesliga as an ECA board member, sits on Bundesliga International’s supervisory board, and contributes to UEFA committees. Previously, he spent 24 years at Bertelsmann, including as CEO of Arvato, and served as international president of AIESEC.
Teresa
Carvi
Production Manager Director – Mediapro
Teresa
Carvi
I am a Produccion Manager and purpose-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in the sports media industry. As Head of Production at LaLiga’s international channel, I’ve led teams and projects that bring football’s emotion and complexity to the screen with creativity and coherence. My journey has expanded beyond production into exploring how sport, especially football, can become a platform for transformation: raising awareness, promoting ethical leadership, and reconnecting us with values that matter.
Valentín
Díaz
President – VISIT BUE
Valentín
Díaz
Valentín Díaz Gilligan currently work as President at the Ente de Turismo and Visit Buenos Aires of the City of Buenos Aires. He also holds the position of President of International Relations and Board Member (Vocal) at Club Atlético River Plate. In the private sector, he has worked for the Techint Organization, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Grupo Insud, and has participated in projects within the tourism industry.
World Football Summit Speakers
World Football Summit
Speakers
Since 2016, WFS has welcomed the football industry leaders who are shaping the future of football
World Football Summit Speakers On stage
World Football Summit Speakers
On stage
