01.
Define your non-negotiables
We get specific about the capability required, the type of person you are looking for, the experience that is needed and the environment the person will be joining.
FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE TRAINING GROUND
What we cover
Clubs and governing bodies sit at the centre of modern sport. They answer to owners, boards, members, fans and funders at once, and every senior hire is judged in public. We search across:
- Chief Executive, Chair and Non-Executive appointments
- Commercial, partnerships and rights leadership
- Operations, finance and governance
- People, culture and organisational leadership
- Marketing, communications and fan engagement
- Data, technology and insight
- Academy, women’s and community programmes
After 25 years inside this world, we know how a club, a league and a federation differ, and why the same person rarely fits all three.
CLUBS, LEAGUES & FEDERATIONS
EVERY DECISION IS MADE IN PUBLIC.
A senior appointment at a club or governing body lands with a lot of people watching. Owners want commercial grip. Fans want people who understand the place. Funders want governance they can trust.
We take the time to understand all of that before we approach anyone, and we stay discreet throughout. In a sector this connected, a search that leaks is a search that suffers.
How we work
Senior-led from brief to appointment
ONE CONNECTED SPORTS ECOSYSTEM
Where ICP works
- Clubs, leagues and federations
- Rights holders and ownership groups
- Performance, medical and elite sporting environments
- Stadiums, venues, events and live experiences
- Sports media, broadcast, production and content
- Fan engagement, digital publishing and OTT platforms
- Sports technology, data, analytics and innovation
- Women’s sport
These sectors align with ICP’s six-practice-area structure and its definition of modern sport as a connected ecosystem rather than a set of silos.
CASE STUDY - TEAM GB
MARKETING & DATA APPOINTMENTS
Team GB engaged ICP for two time-sensitive appointments across its Marketing and Data teams, ahead of the next Olympic cycle.
One role focused on brand growth, campaigns, eCRM and fan engagement. The other strengthened data management, insight and personalised engagement with fans and athletes.
TESTIMONIAL
“Their process is honest, rigorous and commercially focused, with clear communication and a strong understanding of the sport and technology landscape. They consistently deliver high-quality people, and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to others in my network.”
TESTIMONIAL
“Their understanding of the data, technology, and football landscape enabled them to quickly grasp both the technical requirements and the wider context of our needs. The process was highly streamlined, focused, and well managed throughout, ultimately giving us access to a strong and relevant talent pool.”
TESTIMONIAL
“ICP Search have supported projects for me on several occasions, always bringing a trusted, highly professional and well-managed search process. Their delivery is consistently excellent, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Gary and the team across football, sport and the wider purpose-led sector.”
TESTIMONIAL
“Having been appointed as CEO of Freeman’s Event Partners through an ICP Search process, I experienced first-hand the quality, clarity and care Gary and the team bring to senior appointments. Their process is exceptionally well run and delivers the right outcomes for clients and candidates alike.”
TESTIMONIAL
“Having known Gary for many years, including through my time with Team GB, I have always valued the trust, discretion and professionalism he brings to every conversation. ICP Search run an excellent process: clear communication, realistic expectation-setting and a successful outcome in a short timeframe.”
TESTIMONIAL
“During my transition from the BBC, Gary and the ICP Search team were an exceptional source of support and guidance as I considered my next steps. They combined a highly professional, well-connected approach with genuine care, discretion and a clear understanding of the sports-media landscape.”
TESTIMONIAL
“NEP has partnered with ICP Search for many years on a range of mid- to senior-level appointments. Gary and the team have earned our trust through a consistently strong process, niche market understanding, clear communication and high-quality delivery. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.”
TESTIMONIAL
“ICP Search impressed me with the quality of its process, its understanding of the sport and sports-media markets, and the trust Gary and the team built throughout our work together. They are thorough, well connected and highly effective at identifying the people who can genuinely strengthen an organisation.”
TEAMS WE HAVE SUPPORTED
