Meet the leaders joining WFS New York 2025!
Influential decision-makers gathered to design the football we need.
All speakers at WFS Europe 2025
Jean
Baptiste Alliot
Chief Strategy Officer- La Source
Jean
Baptiste Alliot
Jean-Baptiste has spent the past 10 years in the sports industry, holding various roles that ultimately led him to spearhead innovation at UEFA, where he established the UEFA Innovation Hub. As the Chief Strategy Officer at LaSource, he now leads the consulting division, guiding tech clients and startups in the European and International sports industry.
Elma
Saiz Delgado
Ministra – Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
Elma
Saiz Delgado
Licenciada en Derecho y Máster en Asesoría Fiscal por la Universidad de Navarra. Inició su trayectoria profesional en 1999 como socia-directora de IMEL, Consultoría Jurídico Tributaria, S.L, empresa especializada en la consultoría tributaria y asesoramiento jurídico a empresas y particulares.
Gaia
Pretner
Head of Sustainability – European Club Association
Gaia
Pretner
Gaia Pretner joined ECA in May 2023 as Head of Sustainability and launched ECA’s first sustainability strategy in April 2024. She is a sustainability management expert with experience in different sectors from major events, MNCs, Federations and trade associations. Before joining ECA she worked as Sustainable Procurement Manager for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, Sustainability and Circular Economy researcher and consultant for Bocconi University and as Sustainability expert for EXPO Milano 2015 and UNI.
Emily
Heath
Global Brand Director – Rexona
Emily
Heath
Emily Heath, Global Brand Director at Rexona (also known as Sure, Degree or Shield depending on where you are in the world), has 18 years of experience in public relations, social media, innovation and engagement with Unilever’s top brands. Before Unilever, she worked in brand marketing at a major pharmaceuticals company.
In her role, Emily emphasises the transformative power of sport through Rexona’s partnerships and communications.
Toni
Nadal
Coach & Mentor – UAX Rafa Nadal School of Sport
Toni
Nadal
Toni Nadal is a spanish tennis coach. He started working at the Manacor Tennis Club as Head Coach, where he led many of his pupils to the first places in the Spanish ranking.He has been Rafa Nadal’s mentor and coach for 27 years. As a coach, he has the best track records in the history of tennis. He believes a sportsman should develop three main aspects: technical skills, character and the right set of values.
Maheta
Molango
Chairman – PFA
Maheta
Molango
Maheta Molango is the Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), the trade union for footballers in England. A former professional, he began his football career at Atletico Madrid before moving to England to sign with Brighton and Hove Albion in 2004. This was followed by spells at Lincoln City, Oldham Athletic and Wrexham.
Giorgio
Chiellini
Head of Football Institutional Relations – Juventus Football Club
Giorgio
Chiellini
I’m a professional former football player, transitioning now in the management position. Part of Common Goal and other social initiatives.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vasily
Odintsov
CFO – FC Zenit
Vasily
Odintsov
Big4 experience before sports
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.
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.
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.
Ben
Jacobs
Sports Broadcaster – TalkSPORT
Ben
Jacobs
Sports journalist with talkSPORT and GiveMeSport
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.
Hammad
Albalawi
Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid unit at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation – Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Hammad
Albalawi
Hammad Albalawi leads Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 bid, aiming to host the first 48-team tournament in a single nation under the slogan “Growing. Together.” Previously, he was Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Planning & Investment at the Ministry of Sport, overseeing the National Sports and Football Strategies. He also led the privatization of state-owned sports assets, boosting investment appeal and managing IP projects like the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Javier
Tebas
President – LALIGA
Javier
Tebas
Javier Tebas Medrano, born in Costa Rica in 1962, is a Spanish lawyer specializing in sports and bankruptcy law. His football journey began in 1993 as president of SD Huesca. He later joined the boards of CD Badajoz and CD Toledo before becoming LaLiga vice-president in 2001. Elected LaLiga president in 2013, he was re-elected in 2016 and 2019. His leadership focuses on financial controls, audiovisual rights, and international growth, including the Boost LaLiga project with CVC Capital Partners.
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.
Hammad
Albalawi
Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid unit at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation – Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Hammad
Albalawi
Hammad Albalawi leads Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 bid, aiming to host the first 48-team tournament in a single nation under the slogan “Growing. Together.” Previously, he was Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Planning & Investment at the Ministry of Sport, overseeing the National Sports and Football Strategies. He also led the privatization of state-owned sports assets, boosting investment appeal and managing IP projects like the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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.
Jean
Baptiste Alliot
Chief Strategy Officer- La Source
Jean
Baptiste Alliot
Jean-Baptiste has spent the past 10 years in the sports industry, holding various roles that ultimately led him to spearhead innovation at UEFA, where he established the UEFA Innovation Hub. As the Chief Strategy Officer at LaSource, he now leads the consulting division, guiding tech clients and startups in the European and International sports industry.
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.”
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.
Giorgio
Chiellini
Head of Football Institutional Relations – Juventus Football Club
Giorgio
Chiellini
I’m a professional former football player, transitioning now in the management position. Part of Common Goal and other social initiatives.
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.
World Football Summit Speakers
Since 2016, WFS has welcomed the football industry leaders who are shaping the future of football
