WSS takes on ex-M&C Saatchi boss

Matthew Patten, who quit as chief executive of M&C Saatchi Sponsorship a month ago (MW August 8), has been appointed joint managing director of sports marketing company World Sports Solutions (WSS), which counts footballer Rio Ferdinand among its clients.

Tony Simpson, formerly head of brand marketing at the collapsed Sportsworld Media Group, was appointed joint managing director of WSS at the start of August, when the company opened its London office.

WSS previously had three core business areas: brand development of professional sports clubs and bodies; management and marketing of sports stars’ image rights; and advising client companies on developing sports marketing strategies. But in May it announced that it would focus on developing the latter business.

Patten co-founded M&C Saatchi Sponsorship in 1997. As chief executive, he brought in clients such as Silk Cut, NatWest, Unilever and Channel 4. He also worked on a project to raise &£10m in sponsorship for a UK-backed mission to Mars by selling advertising space on the rocket (MW January 27, 2000).