Kirkwood has been with the NFL for over 15 years in various capacities and took up his current position in 2006, having also previously served as the Vice-President of Strategic Planning & Business Development and the Director of Business at NFL International.
Kirkwood’s inclusion bolsters a stellar lineup of speakers and he will take part in a series of discussions as part of the Summit’s fourth and final panel, which is set to offer delegates a unique insight into the sports industry.
The American Football specialist will be joined by the likes of Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby; NBA’s Ben Morel – and others – to assess the importance for rights owners to be active on the ground with live events within the globalised digital market.
Other panel topics set to be dissected include broadcasting and the digital audience, a debate on what brands want from sport in regards to sponsorship and partnerships, plus detailed insight from Adolfo Bara into LaLiga’s Brand Partnerships.
Ample break-out sessions on the day will give an intimate capacity of 150 top-tier executives an opportunity to take part in captivating conversations, build new relationships and – crucially – discover the local market.
The event will be held in the lavish surroundings of Address Boulevard; the newest lifestyle address located in the prestigious Downtown Dubai area.
The hotel will also host a networking reception on November 28, allowing delegates and speakers to relax and engage with their high-ranking peers.
Confirmed speaker lineup:
Murray Barnett, Head of Global Sponsorship & Commercial Partnerships at F1
Jerry Newman, Sport Partnership Lead – EMEA at Facebook
Ben Morel, Managing Director and Senior VP – EMEA at NBA
Sanjay Raina, General Manager & SVP, Fox Networks Group/National Geographic – Middle East, North Africa & Pakistan
Aarti Dabas, Head of Media Rights, Broadcast & Digital at International Cricket Council
Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby
Adolfo Bara, Marketing Director at LaLiga
Nuala Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer at Standard Life Aberdeen
Alistair Kirkwood, Managing Director at NFL UK