Latest Speakers for iSportConnect Digital & Data Masterclass revealed!

iSportConnect have revealed their first return to physical events since the coronavirus pandemic, with the announcement of the 2022 Digital & Data Masterclass, taking place in London on Tuesday, March 29, between 9am to 5pm.

iSportConnect have announced the addition of speakers from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Evil Geniuses and the Kansas City Chiefs to the line-up.

Digital & Data is an area which has become a cornerstone of the sports industry with ever-evolving aspects, meaning a constant uptake of knowledge are necessary in order to stay at the forefront of the latest innovations.

The importance of data and utilising it in a manner which is effective to your organisation is critical across every sector, as the digital world has allowed for further analysis and tracking to become available in places they may not have been in prior decades, creating an abundance of knowledge to gain insight on whether your business processes are being successful.

Digital, meanwhile, has opened up a whole new world for sport as we are all aware, but it does not stand still. Technological advancements are changing the digital space on a near-weekly basis so staying up to date is imperative.

Speakers

Christian Magsisi – Vice President, Technology & Digital – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Christian Magsisi is Vice President of Technology & Digital at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) where he leads Product Design, Engineering, Research and Development. He works with MLSE’s professional sports teams (Argos, Leafs, Raptors, TFC) and business operations to create technology solutions for front office, coaches and players, as well as enhance the digital fan experience for those watching at home as well as the fans in MLSE venues such as Scotiabank Arena and BMO Field. Prior to joining MLSE, Christian has worked in technology for 15 years starting with telecom at Rogers, then moving into software consultancy, building digital products globally for: energy, retail and government sectors.

As an immigrant to Canada from the Philippines, Christian is passionate about uplifting the lives of families in developing countries and works with several charities to leverage technology for good by assisting with shelter, stem education and humanitarian relief. Outside of his professional work, you will find Christian in his woodshop building furniture as a hobby or chasing his daughter and wife through the many trails in Durham region where they reside.

Nicole LaPointe Jameson – CEO – Evil Geniuses

As the CEO of global esports organization Evil Geniuses (EG), I’m proud to head up a legacy sports brand that has helped to define the modern era of competitive gaming and continues to break boundaries today. Overseeing strategy and operations around EG’s competitive sports, technology, education, streaming and entertainment, and merchandise as well as masterminding expansion into new business sectors, I lead a team across Seattle, Belfast, Monaco, and LA focused on ensuring one of the most successful brands in gaming remains as competitive and fan-focused as ever.

Founded in 1999, EG has since expanded to encompass over 35 professional players, streamers and influencers spanning 6 distinct games. In my tenure, the org has undergone a major brand relaunch and made winning debuts in multiple competitive esports, including a franchise slot in the League Championship Series (LCS), the third most popular overall sport between 18-34 year olds in North America. Additionally, I’ve personally championed major commitments to increasing diversity and representation in the gaming space, working with content creators, competitors and collaborators who reflect the multi-faceted audience they represent.

A statistics graduate of Columbia University, I enjoy drawing from my analytical background to make calculated decisions on business operations and strategic opportunities on behalf of EG. As an associate at PEAK6 Investments, I drove the due diligence assessment prior to the acquisition of EG and ultimately stepped in to lead its revitalization as CEO. With experience in capital allocation through private equity and portfolio company operations, twinned with a deep understanding and affinity for the digital and gaming audiences, it’s my ongoing goal to bring the worlds of esports and business operations together for successful fan experiences. A native of Connecticut and currently splitting time between Seattle and Oahu, I’m also a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Business Insider 2020 Transformer, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Esports Business Summit.

Robert Alberino – Vice President, Content & Production – Kansas City Chiefs

Rob Alberino re-joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 as the Vice President of Content and Production after originally serving as the club’s Vice President of Media and Marketing for three years (2010-13). He enters his fourth season with the club and his 27th season in the NFL in 2021.

He spent seven seasons (2013-19) as Vice President/Executive Producer for the San Francisco 49ers between his stops in Kansas City. With San Francisco, Alberino oversaw all marketing, creative and design, as well as the launch and direction of 49ers Studios, the team’s in-house production division. His group created all multimedia and broadcasts across all platforms, while he managed branding, events, social media and new media.

Prior to joining the Chiefs in 2010, Alberino spent 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1997- 2010) as Vice President of Broadcasting where he helped launch the Eagles Television Network, earning 38 Regional Emmys and more than 100 Tellys and other regional accolades. He spent two years (1995- 97) as a filmmaker/producer with NFL Films where he was a writer/director for HBO’s “Inside the NFL.”

Scott Cohen – Warner Music – Chief Innovation Officer, Recorded Music

Scott Cohen is Chief Innovation Officer, Recorded Music, Warner Music Group. Scott works closely with Warner’s senior management team to help chart the long-term course of the company at the intersection of music, technology, and culture. A prominent public speaker and lecturer, Scott travels the world evangelizing new business models for the digital age. An outspoken proponent of AR, VR, Blockchain and AI, he is also testing the limits of technology and biology and became a cyborg in 2016 after developing the NorthSense.

In 1997, Scott and Richard Gottehrer founded the first digital distribution company for music, The Orchard, to provide independent artists the ability to sell their music to mainstream audiences. Two decades after its formation, the company was sold to Sony Music and remains the largest distributor of music in the world.

Paula Bobbett – Boots – E-Commerce Director

Paula is an experienced e-commerce professional with over 20 years’ of retail experience across a number of different sectors. In December 2020, Paula joined Boots UK as Director of boots.com, to manage and develop the online and digital capabilities of the leading health and beauty retailer.

Jim Hingston – The Gym Group – Digital Product Director

Jim is an experienced product & digital leader working for the Gym Group where he has led their digital transformation to deliver the Gym Group’s mission of breaking down barriers to fitness for everyone in the UK providing top quality gyms and fitness at affordable prices. Jim has experience across retail, eCommerce and telco sectors where he has built world class products and lead the teams who have delivered them.

What will we be covering during the event?

Driving Digital Innovation in Music

The music industry has been navigating disruption to traditional business models for decades and it feels like we in sport are in many ways walking in their footsteps. How have the challenges they faced evolved, where is the music industry today, what’s next and what can sport learn?

Data Driven Customer Experiences

The business of sport has become adept at collecting data but arguably not so adept at leveraging that data to improve fan experiences. In this panel we explore specific use cases and experiences of leading experts from inside and outside of the sports industry to unearth the secrets to data success.

The Loyalty Debate: Build Versus Retain

Sport faces increased competition for the attention of new generations of fans as well as international fans. How do we find the right formula of engagement with our current fans to optimise loyalty while investing in building relationships with new fans?

The Future of Sports Content Consumption on Social

The role of social media in sport and society in general has evolved since the early days of Facebook. Gen Z have grown up with a plethora of platforms and content formats to choose from. What can we learn from the consumption habits of emerging generations that can help us to understand how we can better leverage social media.

The Evolution of D2C

Sport has talked about going direct to consumer for many years. However, the offerings have evolved little beyond OTT video platforms. How can the industry go beyond the focus on OTT video and enter a true direct to consumer era driven by the needs of fans?

Information

iSportConnect’s Masterclasses are a place to connect, to inspire, to share ideas, to start conversations and open doors through the world’s largest private sports business network.

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