Locog to reshuffle team after Wijeratna departure
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London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Locog) is to restructure its commercial operations after opting not to replace director of commercial negotiations Charles Wijeratna.
Wijeratna is to take on the role of “executive director with commercial responsibilities” at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Locog has opted to split Wijeratna’s responsibilities between commercial director Chris Townsend and Nick Hockley who has been promoted to head of commercial negotiations.
Wijeratna led on negotiations for the 2012 sponsorship programme and merchandising deals for the 2012 Games.
It is thought that much of Wijeratna’s work has already been done. Locog has already raised about £650m of the £700m sponsorship revenue target originally set nearly two years before the event.
The body has signed 27 domestic partners to date including BP, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB.
Wijeratna replaces Paul Barber at Spurs, who left last year to become chief executive officer at Major League Soccer team Vancouver Whitecaps.
Daniel Levy, chairman of Spurs, says: “We are delighted that Charlie has agreed to join the Club. He brings with him a proven track record in delivering commercial deals and will be a great addition to the board.”
YouGov Insight:
Sport
- 78% of UK sport followers say that they follow football on the television, while 1 in 4 say that they follow football ’live at the event’.
- 82% of men watch football on TV and a third go to live games. 72% of women watch football on TV but only 15% attend live.
- 35% of UK sport followers say that they watch rugby union on television, whereas only 20% say that they watch rugby league.
- Of those who watch live sport, 52% bought a snack the last time they were at an event while 43% said they bought an alcoholic drink.
- It’s a dead heat between those who prefer to watch sport from the comfort of their living room and those who like to be in the thick of the action at live events (24% each).
Click here for more information on this YouGov market report
