FA’s Freedman joins 02
The Football Association is looking for a head of marketing following Simon Freedman’s decision to join O2.
Freedman, a former Coca-Cola marketer, is to join the telecoms company as head of sponsorship. He will manage its arena, rugby and football sponsorships.
It follows a tumultuous six months for the FA that has seen the departure of chief executive Ian Watmore and chairman Lord Triesman.
It also comes a week after lead sponsor Nationwide announced it is was “unlikely” to renew its 11-year lead sponsorship of the England team after the deal expires this month.
The association had been trying to stabilise following the upheavals, bringing in acting chief executive Alex Horne and promoting head of broadcast Stuart Turner to lead the commercial department, a position that had been vacant since Jonathan Hill left last September.
Julian Eccles was brought in as group director of marketing and communications earlier this year.
An FA spokesman says a replacement has not yet been found.
Freedman was said to have led the FA’s Respect campaign, a football wide initiative to improve behaviour in the game and developed a number of fan and participation based initiatives including England Football Day.
He replaces Mark Stevenson, who was moved to head consumer segment marketing earlier this year.
