A 25 year career in broadcasting and content with over 2 decades at Sky as well as spells at BBC and ITV.

Began as a Junior Researcher at ITV before joining Sky Sports as an Assistant Producer 2 years later in 1996. Went to the BBC in 1998 to create new sports programming before returning to Sky in 1999 for the Cricket World Cup in England. Spent the next 11 years in various Production roles including Executive Producer, Cricket (2000-2007) and Executive Producer, Premier League (2007-2008) before becoming Managing Director in 2009 and a place on Sky’s senior Executive Leadership team. Following Comcast’s purchase of Sky I was promoted to the role of CEO, Future Sports, to look at growth areas for the Comcast sports businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

In Jan 2020, I chose to take a career break with a 12 month period of gardening leave, before advising Private Equity, Chairing The Sporting News, sitting on the PDC Board, advising several other Boards and having plenty of fun with two start-ups of my own – a new Creative Agency and an e-bike business. In Nov 2021, I was delighted to accept the role of EVP, Global Production, IMG.

Melissa Lawton is an experienced Head of Production and Content with a demonstrated history of working in the sports production industry with high value companies. Melissa joined SailGP in May 2022 as Chief Content Officer and will oversee season three’s global production strategy. Lawton will also lead the team delivering SailGP’s global broadcast offering, from the live broadcast production and host broadcast feed to non-live content creation including SailGP’s docu-series Racing on the Edge. Lawton was previously responsible for sports production at Meta, home of Facebook. Lawton joined Meta after five years as the head of live content at Red Bull Media House, and her 20-year career has encompassed long term production roles on events such as the Beijing and Sydney Olympics, FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, and Commonwealth Games in India.

As CMO at Six Nations Rugby Ltd I lead the marketing function across all areas of business including the Guinness Six Nations, Women’s Six Nations, U20 Six Nations and Autumn Internationals. We will deliver the greatest rugby championships to a global audience through compelling competition, innovative content and unparalleled fan experiences. Previously I spent time building and expanding a global broadcast and sports media business for DAZN; managing cross-functional teams with the goal of bringing the best live, on-demand and original sports content to fans worldwide via OTT and digital platforms. Partnering with the sports industry (rights holders, federations, teams, broadcast partners, social platforms, athletes and creators) to do so.

Canadian Keith Pelley became the fourth Chief Executive in the history of the European Tour group on Monday August 3, 2015. Since then, Keith has overseen a period of significant evolution and modernisation underlined by the Tour’s brand refresh, which uses the strapline Driving Golf Further to emphasise the Tour’s guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global. This has included the creation of award-winning content, pioneering formats, and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement.

Keith has also overseen a closer collaboration with the women’s game, including co-sanctioned events such as the Volvo Scandinavian Mixed, and the introduction of the ground-breaking Golf for the Disabled Tour, the G4D Tour, in conjunction with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA), which he is a Board member of. In November 2020 he was instrumental in the group signing a ground-breaking Strategic Alliance with the PGA TOUR in the United States which will see global golf’s two pre-eminent Tours now collaborate on all facets of the professional game. Prior to joining The European Tour group, Keith was President of Rogers Media in Toronto; Executive Vice-President of Strategic Planning at CTVglobemedia; President of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium; President and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club; and President of The Sports Network. He is a graduate of Ryerson University with a BA in Radio and Television Arts and also received an ATCL diploma from Trinity College in London.

As Managing Director of NBA Europe and Middle East (NBA EME), Ralph Rivera oversees the development and expansion of the NBA’s business and basketball operations in the region. Rivera directs the league’s efforts across marketing partnerships, media distribution, content and direct-to-consumer, licensing, events and youth participation. Headquartered in London, with an additional office in Madrid, Rivera reports to NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.