Trivandi has celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a series of hires in recent months. The business, which was founded by the venues and infrastructure leadership team behind the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has expanded to 40 permanent staff this year across offices in London, Doha, Dubai and Riyadh.
Over the last year, Trivandi has strengthened its senior team with the arrivals of Peter Griffin as director of Strategy and commercial advisory, Marcus Carling as director of venue development, James Owen Webster as associate design director, and Jess Donald as head of sustainability. Donald was a panel speaker at TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2023 in Manchester last month.
Griffin has extensive experience providing financial, strategic and operational advice to venue and event owners, investors, developers and operators, including Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, Singapore Sports Hub, Vienna Arena in Austria, Co-op Live Arena in Manchester and the new Everton FC Stadium in the UK. Carling brings with him over 30 years’ experience in the operations, delivery and project management of high-profile international venues, including senior positions with Wembley PLC, the Walt Disney Company and Turner & Townsend.
Qualified architect Webster was previously the founder and director of his own award-winning architectural and design studio, where his focus was working with brands and architectural and interior design across the public and commercial sectors. Meanwhile, Donald started her career in the planning and delivery of major events, including London 2012, the FIFA World Cup 2010 and Commonwealth Games before following her passion for sustainability and studying for an MSc in Global Energy and Climate Policy.
Rod Bransgrove, who oversaw Hampshire County Cricket Club’s move to its current home in 2001 and then oversaw the subsequent expansion of the stadium, is stepping down as the club’s chairman at the end of this year. Bransgrove will continue in his role as chair of Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Group, steering the next phase of stadium development at the Ageas Bowl.
Major League clubs have voted to extend commissioner Rob Manfred’s tenure through to January 25, 2029. Manfred, who assumed the Commissioner position in January 2015, will remain in the role for the next five full seasons. The extension comes in the midst of a 2023 season in which the league has seen a surge in attendance after a series of game rule changes that have accelerated the pace of action.
Andy Wooldridge has been appointed as the new commercial director at English Championship football club Ipswich Town. Wooldridge previously served as commercial manager at League Two club Milton Keynes Dons FC for more than five years.
Liz Nicholl has been re-elected as World Netball’s President. Nicholl, who was first elected to the role in 2019, secured a new four-year term at the governing body’s congress in Cape Town. Retired England netballer Stacey Francis-Bayman has been appointed as the first-ever athlete director to sit on the World Netball board after receiving a vote of confidence from members. In other changes, finance director Ann Tod is stepping down after 12 years of service, with Suri Bartlett appointed as the organisation’s first independent finance director, whilst Catherine Lewis was elected by members for a second term as their representative on the nominations committee.
