Get a taste of the sports executive lifestyle

What is a sports executive?

A sports executive manages a sports team or organisation. Additional duties can include recruiting athletes, managing merchandising, ticket sales administration, and more.

Being a sports executive

Being a sports executive is a rewarding profession for those that love sport and interacting with a wide variety of athletes and celebrities. It often requires lots of travel. While this can be exciting and you get to see many different places, it can keep one away from the family and loved ones for extended periods of time.

Appearances

A good first impression is critical in any job that puts you in the position of interacting with many people. A sports executive needs to look professional and sharp when interacting with others. Well-tailored clothing and a well-maintained appearance create an aura of confidence.

Sports executive icons

Max Mosley

As president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Max Mosley was at the top of the sports executive ladder. The FIA is the powerhouse that represents Formula One racing and promotes motorsports all over the world. Mosley started out as an amateur racer and a lawyer. Early in his career he found himself employed by the Formula One Constructors Association, and from there he rose to become the FIA president. His story is truly inspirational because of how he built his career over the years. He served four terms as the FIA president. He was expected to run for a fifth term but declined because of a scandal that blew up in the media. Find out more by checking out the profile of Max Mosley. Being a sports executive can lead to people taking a deep interest in your private affairs.

Bernie Ecclestone

As the current chief executive of the Formula One Group, Bernie stays pretty busy even at the age of 80. The sports executive lifestyle keeps him active. He started out as a spare parts salesman and then had a brief racing career; he became a racing team owner and finally president and co-founder of the Formula One Constructors Association. Max Mosley was his legal adviser for many years before he was president of the FIA. Bernie has come under fire for his outspoken nature, tax avoidance, and accusations of bribery.

Malcolm Glazer

As owner of Manchester United and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Malcolm Glazer was well-known in more than one sporting circle. He started out as a jeweller and expanded into real estate. In 1995 he bought the Buccaneers NFL team. Between 2003 and 2005 he bought out shares of Manchester United FC. Malcolm is known for his business takeover tactics.

An eccentric life

As you might gather, the sports executive tends to be a bit of a driven personality. This comes from the fast-paced nature of the job as well as the interaction with many types of people. For a sociable person that really enjoys sports, this is a job he or she could thrive at.