Global sports marketing agency IMG today announced it has appointed Jackie Stevenson into the newly created role of Chief Client & Operations Officer.
The appointment is part of the centralised leadership structure IMG unveiled in April, strengthening how the company helps more than 250 rightsholders and partners accelerate growth, deepen fan engagement and unlock greater commercial value in an increasingly complex sports and entertainment landscape.
Reporting to IMG President Adam Kelly, Stevenson will lead client delivery and operations globally, ensuring IMG’s expertise is deployed seamlessly across markets while creating a more connected operating model for clients. She will bring together IMG’s consulting, media rights, brand partnerships, production, digital, data and event management capabilities to help partners unlock greater commercial impact through integrated solutions.
Stevenson brings more than three decades of experience helping global organisations accelerate growth through strategy, innovation, transformation and operational leadership. Most recently Global Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at M+C Saatchi, she has built and scaled international businesses across marketing, media, sport and entertainment. She co-founded The Brooklyn Brothers, growing it into an internationally recognised agency before its acquisition by IPG, where she went on to hold a group leadership position overseeing growth across multiple markets.
Kelly said: “Jackie brings exceptional experience leading growth and transformation across complex global organisations. She has operated at scale, built and integrated businesses, and understands what it takes to deliver for multi-market partners. Her appointment is a key step in strengthening how IMG operates as one connected organisation, delivering integrated solutions and long-term value for partners.”
Stevenson said: “Sport and entertainment are evolving faster than ever, and clients increasingly need integrated partners who can connect rights, content, technology, data and commercial expertise. IMG is uniquely positioned to do that at global scale and I’m excited to help shape the next chapter with Adam, Barney and the brilliant teams across the business.”
The appointment follows IMG’s announcement in April that Barney Francis was named Chief Business Officer, bringing together the company’s commercial functions under a single integrated go-to-market approach. Together, these two new leadership roles further strengthen the connection between IMG’s commercial, client and operational functions.
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