Ian Mathie, the Infront agency’s Pan-Asia managing director, is leaving the company and will be replaced by David Nivelle, currently director at Fiba Marketing.
Infront said today (Tuesday) that Mathie is leaving “to pursue a new challenge”. He has managed the Infront Pan-Asia subsidiary from its Singapore office since launch in 2013. He was previously a senior vice president at the Singapore-based World Sport Group agency, which was merged with Lagardère Sports in 2015.
Mathie (pictured, below) will lead Infront’s Pan-Asia business until he leaves at the beginning of the third quarter, supported by Julien Ternisien, senior vice-president of Summer Sports and chairman of the Infront Pan-Asia steering committee.
Infront also announced that its current head of basketball, Andreas Biffiger, will be moving in the opposite direction to Nivelle, and becoming director of Fiba Marketing.
Fiba Marketing is a partnership between the international basketball federation, Fiba, and Infront, alongside the agency’s parent company Wanda. It was launched in 2016 in a deal running until at least 2033, covering four Fiba Basketball World Cup cycles. Infront and Wanda are managing the commercialisation of worldwide sponsorship and licensing rights to a host of Fiba tournaments.
In the press release announcing the moves, Infront’s president and chief executive Philippe Blatter said: “Ian’s leadership and personal commitment have been instrumental in the development of our operations in Singapore and in ensuring our clients’ success there. I would like to thank Ian sincerely for his valuable contribution during his tenure and wish him all the very best for his next endeavours.
“David brings a wealth of experience in the field of commercial development, general management as well as a significant track record and network in Asian sports business. In his role at Fiba Marketing, the strategic partnership venture between Fiba and Infront, David significantly contributed to the successful delivery of the Fiba World Cup 2019, which featured a record number of global partners for Fiba.
“He will ensure the continuity of our operations at Infront Pan-Asia and in addition to pursuing business development initiatives in South East Asia, David will continue to be available to the successful Fiba Marketing partnership in this key region for basketball.”
Mathie added: “I have enjoyed a very successful period leading Infront Pan-Asia during a crucial phase of development of the sports industry in Asia. After seven years of growing the business and following major achievements, such as securing the partnership with the BWF, I feel that now is the right time to embrace new professional challenges. I would like to thank my excellent team and all my Infront colleagues for being part of this wonderful journey.”