Meet the leaders joining WFS Riyadh 2025
Influential decision-makers gathered to design the football we need.
Confirmed speakers at WFS Riyadh 2025
Confirmed speakers at
WFS Riyadh 2025
Shayne
Allise
Founder & CEO – 3XV Sports
Shayne
Allise
Shayne Allise Steyteyieh is a Palestinian-Irish American former Grand Prix dressage rider and the Founder of 3XV Sports. She began her career as a full-time sponsored athlete, earning USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals by 25 and training under some of the sport’s most accomplished Olympic athletes. Her own experiences navigating sponsorship as a Palestinian athlete revealed inequities and cultural blind spots within global sport – insights that became the foundation for 3XV’s athlete-first model.
Saleh
Alshehri
Professional football player
Saleh
Alshehri
Captain Saleh Al Shehri is a Saudi footballer for Al-Ittihad FC and the national team. Known for his passion beyond the pitch, he advocates for education, youth empowerment, and football as a force for social change. With international experience from his time in Portugal, he brings a global outlook to local development, inspiring Saudi youth to pursue both academic and athletic excellence.
Jozy
Altidore
Athlete and Investor- Sogility
Jozy
Altidore
I’m Jozy Altidore, a former U.S. Men’s National Team striker with a deep passion for soccer and its growth in the U.S. After playing for clubs in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico, I had the privilege of leading Toronto FC to an MLS Cup win in 2017. I also represented the U.S. in multiple World Cups and the 2008 Olympics, earning over 100 caps and scoring 41 goals. Beyond my playing career, I’ve been fortunate to be involved in various ventures.
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.
Raj
Athwal
Chief Executive Officer – Odisha Football Club
Raj
Athwal
With over 30 years of experience, I specialise in revitalising football clubs, steering them through challenges & building sustainable paths to success. I have worked across the football ecosystems; from Coventry City during their Premier League tenure to Glasgow Rangers, a club with a rich UEFA Champions League legacy. Currently, as part of Odisha FC’s journey, I’ve focussed on driving grwoth and innovation.
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.
Mayur
Bhanji
Chief Communications Officer – Raiola Global Management
Mayur
Bhanji
Mayur has close to two-decades of experience as a broadcaster and in the PR & Communications space. In this time Mayur has worked across the Middle East and North Africa region, South East Asia, India and across Europe for many leading organisations such as the BBC, beIN SPORTS, LaLiga and Sky Sports.
Currently Mayur leads PR, Communications and Media Relations for Raiola Global Management, supporting many of the leading athletes from the world of football.
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.”
Simon
Chadwick
Advisor, and Professor of AfroEurasian Sport- Evosport
Simon
Chadwick
Professor Simon Chadwick is a researcher, writer, academic, consultant, advisor, and speaker, whose work focuses on leading and managing in complex environments. His particular areas of expertise are in policy and strategy, international and global markets, as well as business and marketing. Chadwick also serves as an Evosport adviser.
Kristian
Dobrev
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
Harburg
Chairman – Harburg Group
Ben
Harburg
Ben Harburg is a Managing Partner of Novo Capital a global, multi-stage investment firm. He is the principal of Harburg Group, a multi-club ownership group that is the owner of Al Kholood Club of the Saudi Pro League, and co-owner of Cádiz Club de Fútbol of LaLiga Hypermotion and Querétaro Fútbol Club of Liga MX. He is a board director of various private companies, as well as those of several foundations in the arts, geopolitical and academic arenas.
Peter
Hutton
Board Director – Roshn Saudi League
Peter
Hutton
Board director at Saudi Premier League. Former CEO/Managing Director at Eurosport, Fox Sports Asia, Ten Sports, MP and Silva, IMG South Asia
Ben
Jacobs
Sports Broadcaster – TalkSPORT
Ben
Jacobs
Sports journalist with talkSPORT and GiveMeSport.
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.
Olek
Loewenstein
Global President of Sports – TelevisaUnivision
Olek
Loewenstein
Olek Loewenstein is President of Global Sports Business at TelevisaUnivision, overseeing all sports content operations in the U.S. and Mexico. He leads TUDN’s bi-national production hub, delivering over 4,000 hours of studio shows, 6,000 hours of live TV events, and 4,500+ streaming hours on ViX annually. Under his leadership, TelevisaUnivision holds the largest live soccer portfolio, featuring Liga MX, the Mexican national team, FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and more.
Joe
Morrison
TV Presenter – Saudi Pro League
Joe
Morrison
Joe Morrison has been a Live TV Broadcaster for over 20 years and is a well known face of football to millions of sports buff’s across the Middle East, Indian Sub-continent and Asia.
Farkhunda
Muhtaj
Professional Footballer & Social Activst
Farkhunda
Muhtaj
Farkhunda Muhtaj is an Afghan-Canadian footballer, activist, and humanitarian. She led the 2021 evacuation of 300+ Afghans, including the women’s national team, featured in the Cannes Lions–winning *We Are Ayenda*. Captain of Afghanistan’s national team and midfielder for Calgary Wild FC, she co-founded Scarborough Simbas to support refugees through sport. She’s a global speaker and ambassador for several NGOs, advising Canada Soccer and FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto.
Magda
Pozzo
Chief Commercial Officer – Udinese Calcio
Magda
Pozzo
The main purpose of her role is to manage all international partnership projects between the teams of the Pozzo Ownership Group. Magda, always passionate about innovation, was the first to introduce the concept of naming rights for a stadium in Italy, signed in 2015. The Bluenergy Stadium currently aims to become the first green stadium in Italy given the great commitment she has made in the green policy of Udinese Calcio, indicated as the most sustainable club in Italy and fourth in the world by the BFFSI.
Ralf
Reichert
CEO – Esports Worldcup Foundation
Ralf
Reichert
Ralf began his esports journey in the 90s, co-founding SK Gaming and later ESL, helping turn esports into a global phenomenon. As Chairman of ESL Faceit Group, he oversaw its rise into a billion-dollar brand. In 2023, he became CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, leading efforts to elevate esports to a premier global sport and grow the foundation as a driving force in the industry.
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.
Luis
Vicente
Chairman – Apex
Luis
Vicente
Luis Vicente is a seasoned sports executive with over 30 years of experience driving innovation, growth, and digital transformation in sport. He’s Chairman of APEX and advisor to Mercury 13, Baller League, and Common Goal. Formerly Group CEO of ELEVEN SPORTS and FIFA’s first Chief Digital Transformation Officer, he has held key roles at Valencia CF, Manchester City, and advised top clubs like Real Madrid. He’s also represented football legends like Figo, Ronaldo, and Shevchenko.
Shayne
Allise
Founder & CEO – 3XV Sports
Shayne
Allise
Shayne Allise Steyteyieh is a Palestinian-Irish American former Grand Prix dressage rider and the Founder of 3XV Sports. She began her career as a full-time sponsored athlete, earning USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals by 25 and training under some of the sport’s most accomplished Olympic athletes. Her own experiences navigating sponsorship as a Palestinian athlete revealed inequities and cultural blind spots within global sport – insights that became the foundation for 3XV’s athlete-first model.
Saleh
Alshehri
Professional football player
Saleh
Alshehri
Captain Saleh Al Shehri is a Saudi footballer for Al-Ittihad FC and the national team. Known for his passion beyond the pitch, he advocates for education, youth empowerment, and football as a force for social change. With international experience from his time in Portugal, he brings a global outlook to local development, inspiring Saudi youth to pursue both academic and athletic excellence.
Jozy
Altidore
Athlete and Investor- Sogility
Jozy
Altidore
I’m Jozy Altidore, a former U.S. Men’s National Team striker with a deep passion for soccer and its growth in the U.S. After playing for clubs in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico, I had the privilege of leading Toronto FC to an MLS Cup win in 2017. I also represented the U.S. in multiple World Cups and the 2008 Olympics, earning over 100 caps and scoring 41 goals. Beyond my playing career, I’ve been fortunate to be involved in various ventures.
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.
Raj
Athwal
Chief Executive Officer – Odisha Football Club
Raj
Athwal
With over 30 years of experience, I specialise in revitalising football clubs, steering them through challenges & building sustainable paths to success. I have worked across the football ecosystems; from Coventry City during their Premier League tenure to Glasgow Rangers, a club with a rich UEFA Champions League legacy. Currently, as part of Odisha FC’s journey, I’ve focussed on driving grwoth and innovation.
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.
Mayur
Bhanji
Chief Communications Officer – Raiola Global Management
Mayur
Bhanji
Mayur has close to two-decades of experience as a broadcaster and in the PR & Communications space. In this time Mayur has worked across the Middle East and North Africa region, South East Asia, India and across Europe for many leading organisations such as the BBC, beIN SPORTS, LaLiga and Sky Sports.
Currently Mayur leads PR, Communications and Media Relations for Raiola Global Management, supporting many of the leading athletes from the world of football.
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.”
Simon
Chadwick
Advisor, and Professor of AfroEurasian Sport- Evosport
Simon
Chadwick
Professor Simon Chadwick is a researcher, writer, academic, consultant, advisor, and speaker, whose work focuses on leading and managing in complex environments. His particular areas of expertise are in policy and strategy, international and global markets, as well as business and marketing. Chadwick also serves as an Evosport adviser.
Kristian
Dobrev
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
Harburg
Chairman – Harburg Group
Ben
Harburg
Ben Harburg is a Managing Partner of Novo Capital a global, multi-stage investment firm. He is the principal of Harburg Group, a multi-club ownership group that is the owner of Al Kholood Club of the Saudi Pro League, and co-owner of Cádiz Club de Fútbol of LaLiga Hypermotion and Querétaro Fútbol Club of Liga MX. He is a board director of various private companies, as well as those of several foundations in the arts, geopolitical and academic arenas.
Peter
Hutton
Board Director – Roshn Saudi League
Peter
Hutton
Board director at Saudi Premier League. Former CEO/Managing Director at Eurosport, Fox Sports Asia, Ten Sports, MP and Silva, IMG South Asia
Ben
Jacobs
Sports Broadcaster – TalkSPORT
Ben
Jacobs
Sports journalist with talkSPORT and GiveMeSport.
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.
Olek
Loewenstein
Global President of Sports – TelevisaUnivision
Olek
Loewenstein
Olek Loewenstein is President of Global Sports Business at TelevisaUnivision, overseeing all sports content operations in the U.S. and Mexico. He leads TUDN’s bi-national production hub, delivering over 4,000 hours of studio shows, 6,000 hours of live TV events, and 4,500+ streaming hours on ViX annually. Under his leadership, TelevisaUnivision holds the largest live soccer portfolio, featuring Liga MX, the Mexican national team, FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and more.
Joe
Morrison
TV Presenter – Saudi Pro League
Joe
Morrison
Joe Morrison has been a Live TV Broadcaster for over 20 years and is a well known face of football to millions of sports buff’s across the Middle East, Indian Sub-continent and Asia.
Farkhunda
Muhtaj
Professional Footballer & Social Activst
Farkhunda
Muhtaj
Farkhunda Muhtaj is an Afghan-Canadian footballer, activist, and humanitarian. She led the 2021 evacuation of 300+ Afghans, including the women’s national team, featured in the Cannes Lions–winning *We Are Ayenda*. Captain of Afghanistan’s national team and midfielder for Calgary Wild FC, she co-founded Scarborough Simbas to support refugees through sport. She’s a global speaker and ambassador for several NGOs, advising Canada Soccer and FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto.
Magda
Pozzo
Chief Commercial Officer – Udinese Calcio
Magda
Pozzo
The main purpose of her role is to manage all international partnership projects between the teams of the Pozzo Ownership Group. Magda, always passionate about innovation, was the first to introduce the concept of naming rights for a stadium in Italy, signed in 2015. The Bluenergy Stadium currently aims to become the first green stadium in Italy given the great commitment she has made in the green policy of Udinese Calcio, indicated as the most sustainable club in Italy and fourth in the world by the BFFSI.
Ralf
Reichert
CEO – Esports Worldcup Foundation
Ralf
Reichert
Ralf began his esports journey in the 90s, co-founding SK Gaming and later ESL, helping turn esports into a global phenomenon. As Chairman of ESL Faceit Group, he oversaw its rise into a billion-dollar brand. In 2023, he became CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, leading efforts to elevate esports to a premier global sport and grow the foundation as a driving force in the industry.
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.
Luis
Vicente
Chairman – Apex
Luis
Vicente
Luis Vicente is a seasoned sports executive with over 30 years of experience driving innovation, growth, and digital transformation in sport. He’s Chairman of APEX and advisor to Mercury 13, Baller League, and Common Goal. Formerly Group CEO of ELEVEN SPORTS and FIFA’s first Chief Digital Transformation Officer, he has held key roles at Valencia CF, Manchester City, and advised top clubs like Real Madrid. He’s also represented football legends like Figo, Ronaldo, and Shevchenko.
World Football Summit Speakers
World Football Summit
Speakers
Since 2016, WFS has welcomed the football industry leaders who are shaping the future of football
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World Football Summit Speakers
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