Other website sections

»Sports Market Reports

»Sports Jobs

»Tenders

»Directory

»Conferences

Infront Sports & Media announced yesterday the appointment of Ma Guoli – until recently the COO for the Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB) – as the new CEO and Managing Director for Infront China.

The appointment of one of the most influential figures in Chinese sport to lead Infront’s China operation demonstrates Infront’s commitment and success to date to this important market. There has been considerable speculation as to Ma Guoli’s next choice of occupation, following his leading role in the broadcasting of the spectacularly successful Beijing Olympic Games.

Ma Guoli is known not just in China but throughout the sports world for his role as founder of CCTV-5, the first sports TV channel in China. With more than 20 years experience in the sports industry, he has been responsible for China’s television broadcast of the 1990 and 1994 Asian Games and has worked on six Summer Games and four Winter Games in total before becoming the Chief Operating Officer of BOB. In 2000 he has been named as one of the top 50 “Most Influential People in Sport” in a survey by the Guardian newspaper in the UK.

Contributing to the Olympic legacy
Infront China is entering a new phase of development. It already represents China’s two top sports – football and basketball – at League and National Team level. It is now embarking on its second phase of expansion, implementing a number of key strategic initiatives that will contribute to the Olympic legacy through the further development of Chinese sport.

Robert Louis-Dreyfus, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Infront Group, said: “This is a highly significant appointment that will have considerable resonance among the sports world, in China and beyond. We are delighted that Ma has agreed to lend his considerable endorsement to our vision for the development of sport in China.”

Philippe Blatter, Infront’s President & CEO, added: “Ma – who has been instrumental in bringing so much international sport to Chinese audiences – now sees an opportunity to ‘give back’ to indigenous Chinese sport. Chinese sports are growing strongly and Ma will help us to ensure this growth is effectively realised in partnership with the Chinese sports authorities. He has the expertise and influence to bring about real change. A successful sports marketing industry in China, with more understanding of the contribution that sponsorship and media partnerships can make are very important.”

Ma Guoli commented: “I am convinced by Infront’s approach and understanding of China’s needs, combined with the resources it is deploying around the world to promote key sports properties. It is not easy to introduce new ideas successfully in a market the size of China, but Infront has demonstrated real commitment, not just to the marketing of China’s major sports, but also in their technical development, the quality of their media coverage and by working towards more rewarding prospects for players and athletes. This long-term attitude is the right one. I believe that Infront has only just started to demonstrate what it can do for the sports industry in China.”

The appointment of Ma Guoli will commence officially on 1 January 2009, although there will be a period of transition when he will spend time in the Infront Beijing office.