New global body to represent leading sport executives

Aiming to support sports professionals, a new organisation, the Professional Body of Sports Leadership (PBSL) has launched for current and aspiring sport industry executives.

Setting out to support, represent and provide professional development opportunities for individuals across the sports industry, the PBSL will aim to provide peer-to-peer support, coaching, seminars, workshops, education courses, networking, wellbeing guidance, and legal advice to senior executives, high-performance specialists, and non-executive directors in the sports industry.

Introducing the UK-based body, a statement advises “with the current global pandemic posing complex challenges, a supportive and representative industry body is needed now more than ever. “The PBSL will assist members to navigate these turbulent times and provide comprehensive support, helping them to evolve as confident, agile leaders and enhancing their skill sets. It will also create industry-wide dialogue and act as a voice, confronting issues and providing tangible solutions.”

Led by professionals with extensive experience of holding senior positions in the sports industry, it aims to drive the development of a new standard in sports industry leadership and governance, actively promoting inclusion and diversity in all its forms and working to safeguard mental health and wellbeing.

Tom Sears, Managing Director of sport industry executive search company Kinsey Sears, who has taken on the role of inaugural Chair of the PBSL, advised “the PBSL offers a new dimension to individuals in the sports industry, providing informative content, personal guidance, education and development opportunities, innovative perspectives and diverse insights.

“In doing this, it will improve leadership and governance in the industry for the wider benefit of society, actively promoting diversity in all its forms, supporting individuals to develop professionally and safeguarding their mental health and wellbeing.

The PBSL Advisory Board, which was established alongside the PBSL, includes Rugby League World Cup 2021 Chair, Chris Brindley, SailGP Global People Director, Jon Massie, and Formula One Head Of Commercial Partnerships Development, Zarah Al-Kudcy.

Al-Kudcy said the body will also work to support students, graduates and people looking to start their career in the sport industry, adding “not all sport was created equal and consequently, there is an inequality in support and opportunities for the people within it.

“The PBSL will help shape and provide a more formal structure to those looking for guidance.

“The PBSL is an objective, transparent, and informed entity to aid an industry that is continually evolving, with an ever-increasing focus on people.

“Cross collaboration continues to drive change whether across sports, management levels or sectors and the PBSL wants to increase the frequency with which this happens.”

About the Professional Body of Sports Leadership
The Professional Body of Sports Leadership (PBSL) is a professional membership body representing current and aspiring senior executives, high performance specialists and non-executive directors in the sports industry.

An independent body led by people with extensive experience of holding senior positions in sport, the PBSL is dedicated to enabling individuals across the sports industry to achieve their personal best. It aims to drive the development of a new standard in sports industry leadership and governance, safeguard mental health and wellbeing and actively promote inclusion and diversity in all its forms. Alongside this, it will harness the collective knowledge of the industry, creating an industry dialogue and representative voice.

Members will have access to a central platform where they can connect, share best practice, and access professional development and individual support, including seminars, workshops, education courses and networking, as well as personal development in the form of mentoring, well-being guidance and legal advice.

Click here to visit the PBSL website. 

Images: Tom Sears (middle) and Zarah Al-Kudcy (below).