Deloitte to ‘invest significantly’ into UK Sports Business Group

Deloitte has announced its Financial Advisory practice plans to invest “significantly” in its UK Sports Business Group over the next three years in a bid to grow the group’s capabilities following a “record level” of public and private investor activity in the sports sector.

As part of the investment plan, Tim Bridge will lead the Sports Business Group from June 2022. Bridge is a qualified chartered accountant, having spent the last 13 years at Deloitte’s Manchester office, working with investors, governing bodies, national associations, clubs and other sports organisations around the globe.

In his new role, Bridge succeeds Dan Jones who will be retiring in May, following almost three decades at Deloitte.

Additionally, Alan Switzer and Paul Rawnsley will be taking up senior director positions in the practice. Combined, Switzer and Rawnsley have over four decades of experience in the sports business market as part of the team, delivering lead advisory and consulting services to stakeholders in global sport.

Deloitte’s Sports Business Group in the UK is part of Deloitte’s global network of sports advisory and consulting teams across its practices in the US, Europe, and Asia, working alongside municipal corporations, governing sports bodies, national associations, clubs, and other sports organisations.

The UK group works with clients across more than 30 different sports to enable transformational change, resolve challenges, enhance value and fuel opportunities for growth.

Its work includes supporting major sports transactions, providing M&A advisory services and offering strategic, commercial, and regulatory advisory services to both the private and public sector.

Richard Bell, managing partner for Financial Advisory at Deloitte UK, said: “Following a sustained period of growing professionalisation, digitisation and change across the industry, investors’ interest in the sports market has soared in recent years.

Bridge added: “Deloitte’s Sports Business Group has an exciting period ahead, working with some of the largest stakeholders in sport to drive industry-wide transformation, deliver significant financial results and improve the experience of fans and players alike.

“I’m looking forward to leading Deloitte’s Sports Business Group in the UK, working to create new initiatives that build growth, investment and resilience within the industry while, in turn, improving the experiences of players, fans and our communities.”