Thursday 9 January 2025
07:45
Ivan Gazidis and Fergus Bell
Investing in Sport
Sport is becoming big business, creating an exciting, emerging asset class. Joining us to bring clarity to the opportunities and pitfalls, we are delighted to be hosting legendary ex Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis, and Fergus Bell, co-founder of The Players Fund, a London based sports focussed VC firm.
Ivan has thirty years of experience in the sports industry. He currently serves as the President of Kilmer Sports Ventures, a private sports and entertainment investment company which owns the French football team, St Etienne, and the WNBA Canadian expansion team starting in 2026. Early in his career, Ivan worked as a solicitor in the City of London. In 1994, he left for the United States as the second employee of the start up Major League Soccer and was part of its founding management team, ultimately serving as its Deputy Commissioner. In 2009, he joined the London soccer team, Arsenal FC, as its CEO and served in that position for ten years. In December 2018, he joined AC Milan in Italy as its CEO, where he led a remarkable four year on and off field turnaround of that historic club, leading it back to profitability from the brink of insolvency and winning its first Championship in 11 years before its sale in 2022. Ivan has served at the highest levels on all the most important national and international football governing bodies and has been a featured speaker at sports business conferences all around the world. Ivan studied law at Oxford University and represented the University in soccer.
Fergus is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Players Fund, the UK’s first athlete led VC firm. Following retirement from professional sport in 2016, Fergus has remained passionate about working alongside elite athletes as they prepare for life outside of sport and has advised global athletes and brands throughout his career. He is a passionate Angel investor and lectures at The European Sports Business School (Athletes in Enterprise) whilst also sitting on the board of numerous early stage businesses.
President of Kilmer Sports Ventures and former CEO of Arsenal FC; Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Players Fund
Ivan has thirty years of experience in the sports industry. He currently serves as the President of Kilmer Sports Ventures, a private sports and entertainment investment company which owns the French football team, St Etienne, and the WNBA Canadian expansion team starting in 2026. Early in his career, Ivan worked as a solicitor in the City of London. In 1994, he left for the United States as the second employee of the start up Major League Soccer and was part of its founding management team, ultimately serving as its Deputy Commissioner. In 2009, he joined the London soccer team, Arsenal FC, as its CEO and served in that position for ten years. In December 2018, he joined AC Milan in Italy as its CEO, where he led a remarkable four year on and off field turnaround of that historic club, leading it back to profitability from the brink of insolvency and winning its first Championship in 11 years before its sale in 2022. Ivan has served at the highest levels on all the most important national and international football governing bodies and has been a featured speaker at sports business conferences all around the world. Ivan studied law at Oxford University and represented the University in soccer.
Fergus is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Players Fund, the UK’s first athlete led VC firm. Following retirement from professional sport in 2016, Fergus has remained passionate about working alongside elite athletes as they prepare for life outside of sport and has advised global athletes and brands throughout his career. He is a passionate Angel investor and lectures at The European Sports Business School (Athletes in Enterprise) whilst also sitting on the board of numerous early stage businesses.
