Elevate, the full-service global sports and entertainment agency, today announced that William (Willie) DiBlasi has been named Chief Operating Officer, while continuing to serve as Chief Financial Officer, a role that formalizes and expands his leadership scope as the group continues its evolution and global expansion.
The move reflects Elevate’s continued growth, increasing scale, and leadership maturity. As the agency expands across new markets, service lines, and regions around the world, the added COO role is designed to bring greater operational clarity and speed – ensuring Elevate remains agile, aligned, and positioned for sustainable and long-term success.
“Willie has been a transformational leader for Elevate since the moment he joined, and our global growth reflects that."
Al Guido
Chairman and CEO of Elevate
"This is a strategic step forward — his leadership and judgment will help us move faster while staying true to the entrepreneurial spirit that got us here. I am proud of what he has accomplished and even more excited about what’s ahead.”
DiBlasi has served as Elevate’s Chief Financial Officer since 2024 and has been deeply involved in shaping the agency’s growth trajectory. During this time, he led the company’s Series B and Series C equity raises, a strategic balance sheet recapitalization with Goldman Sachs, and four separate strategic acquisitions. These include Elevate’s expansion into the Middle East through the acquisition of Rise Group, as well as the acquisitions of GA and Downstream, which significantly expanded the agency’s global creative footprint across five additional international offices.
In his dual role as COO and CFO, DiBlasi will oversee Elevate’s global operations, focusing on optimizing and integrating core business functions – including finance, people, legal, technology, and performance management – across all verticals and regions. The role is designed to streamline execution and ensure the company’s operating model continues to match its commercial momentum.
“This is a continuation of the hard work we’ve been building toward.”
Willie DiBlasi
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Elevate
“My focus is on empowering our teams by creating clear decision pathways and ensuring we’re set up in a way to move quickly and confidently as we grow. Elevate’s opportunity ahead is significant, and this role is about making sure we’re well positioned to deliver.”
Prior to joining Elevate, DiBlasi led the global facility advisory and finance practice at Inner Circle Sports and spent nearly a decade as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, where he served as a senior banker on landmark sports, media, and infrastructure projects. Over the course of his career, he has advised on more than $25 billion in public and private sector transactions for professional teams, leagues, municipalities, and global sports organizations.
DiBlasi holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College.
Elevate is a global, integrated agency network committed to helping properties, brands, and universities forge deeper connections with their audiences to unlock growth. Serving more than 1,000 clients across sports, entertainment, consumer products, retail, and more, Elevate transforms followers into devoted fans.
An agency rooted in innovation, Elevate leverages EPIC, its proprietary intelligence platform powered by advanced data and AI technology. EPIC integrates tools for consumer insights, ticketing, property analytics, and more, empowering clients to maximize ROI, enhance fan engagement, and craft campaigns that foster lasting loyalty.
Founded in 2018, Elevate partners with clients worldwide from offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. For more information, visit us at www.oneelevate.com.
