At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global sports marketing strategy for Speedo, focusing on athlete partnerships and brand activations.
- Company: Join Pentland Brands, a dynamic family business with iconic activewear and footwear brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, health perks, and generous holiday options.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant team that champions diversity, creativity, and impactful marketing in sports.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in sports marketing leadership, strong negotiation skills, and a bold, innovative mindset.
- Other info: Opportunity to engage with top-tier athletes and influence major sporting events like the Olympics.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Job Description
Global Head of Sports Marketing – Speedo | London | Permanent, full time
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We’re Pentland Brands; a dynamic, global family business, and proud owners and licensees of many iconic active and footwear brands. With a community of over 1,300 team members worldwide, we embrace diversity and inclusion, and champion growth and development. Our success is built on teamwork, courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
\\nWhat’s the mission for this role?\\n
Reporting to the Global VP of Brand Marketing, the Global Head of Sports Marketing is responsible for owning and delivering the global sports marketing strategy for Speedo. This role leads the commercialisation and activation of our athlete ecosystem, including athletes, federations, clubs, performance centres, and competition events, and ensures their seamless integration into brand, retail, and marketing plans across all key regions.
\\nWhat does this role do?\\n
As our Global Head of Sports Marketing – Speedo, you will be responsible for:
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- Strategic leadership:
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- Own and evolve the global sports marketing strategy in partnership with regional teams, ensuring alignment with overarching brand and business goals.
- Define and drive the global athlete marketing approach—positioning our roster as compelling brand ambassadors and cultural storytellers, while uniting internal teams to maximise brand impact.
- Lead brand presence at major swim sport moments, ensuring activations are disruptive, brand-building, and strategically differentiated.
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- Lead Speedo’s global athlete marketing programme—from talent identification and contract negotiation to activation planning and ROI analysis.
- Drive commercial value across the broader ecosystem, including federations, clubs, and performance centres, through integrated campaigns, affiliate partnerships, content, and retail activations.
- Build long-term, strategic relationships with top-tier athletes and partners who authentically represent our brand values and purpose.
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- Work closely with brand marketing, social, product, PR, digital, and retail to embed athletes and partners across brand moments, seasonal campaigns, and product launches.
- Act as the global lead for Olympic Games planning—aligning product, sports marketing, communications, and commercial functions to deliver a cohesive, high-impact presence
- Ensure ongoing feedback loops between athletes and product teams, enabling continuous improvement through prototype testing, fit validation, and real-world performance trials
- Drive integration of athlete narratives into product and innovation storytelling, enhancing authenticity and relevance across design and marketing touchpoints
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- Own and manage the global sports marketing budget, ensuring effective and strategic allocation across initiatives.
- Define KPIs, lead reporting, and track performance to continuously optimise investment and impact.
- Establish clear reporting structures to track athlete performance, activation success, and commercial return.
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- Lead, inspire, and mentor regional sports marketing teams, supporting the execution of bold, locally resonant strategies.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and performance across markets and functions.
- Provide clear strategic frameworks and practical tools to ensure globally consistent, locally relevant execution.
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\\nWhat do I bring to the role?\\n
You just might be our next superstar if you have the following skills and experience:
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- Proven track record in global or regional sports marketing leadership roles, ideally within the performance or lifestyle category.
- Exceptional negotiation and relationship-building skills, with confidence managing relationships with athletes, agents, and key stakeholders.
- Strong commercial acumen, with a demonstrated ability to deliver measurable ROI from athlete, sports, and influencer partnerships.
- Inspirational and inclusive leader, experienced in guiding diverse, cross-regional teams
- Trusted stakeholder manager, confident in engaging senior leaders and securing alignment on major sports marketing strategies and investments.
- Confident owning Olympic and major event strategies, as well as executing locally driven activations
- A bold, disruptive thinker capable of challenging convention and elevating how sport shows up culturally.
- Strategic yet hands-on, capable of balancing visionary thinking with fast-paced execution.
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We want you to live our company principles, bringing a strong consumer focus, while always looking for ways to improve and grow in your role. Take ownership of your work and be proactive in solving problems whilst communicating openly and treating everyone with respect and kindness. And, of course, let your creativity shine by bringing your unique style and individuality to the Pentland Brands Team.
\\nWhat’s in it for me?\\n
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- Competitive salary + discretionary bonus
- 25 Days Holiday: Increases with length of service and the option to purchase additional days to suit your needs.
- Discounts: Brand discounts (including friends and family and JD Sports), Sample Sales, and other retail discounts and perks.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: Generous enhanced parental leave policies
- Health Perks: Choose from a variety of health-related perks including medical cash plan, critical illness cover, life assurance, gym and fitness discounts, dental insurance, eye care, and health screening to maintain your wellbeing.
- Travel Perks: Take advantage of our season ticket loan, cycle to work schemes, electric car schemes, and discounts on home charging units to support eco-friendly commuting.
- Flexible Working: We offer hybrid working and flexible working hours, allowing you to start your day earlier or later to help with commute costs or personal commitments.
- Chance to join our Charity, D&I and Sustainability employee networks.
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As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive culture across our business, stores, and office environment.
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We warmly welcome your application.
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Global Head of Sports Marketing - Speedo employer: Pentland Brands
Contact Detail:
Pentland Brands Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Head of Sports Marketing - Speedo
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the sports marketing industry, especially those who have experience with global brands. Attend industry events, webinars, and conferences to connect with potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the role and company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Speedo's current marketing strategies and athlete partnerships. Understanding their brand positioning and recent campaigns will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their goals during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with budget management and ROI analysis in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully allocated resources in previous roles to drive measurable results in sports marketing.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership style by highlighting instances where you've inspired and mentored teams. Be prepared to discuss how you foster collaboration and innovation within diverse groups, as this aligns with the company's values.
We think you need these skills to ace Global Head of Sports Marketing - Speedo
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in sports marketing, particularly any leadership roles. Emphasise your achievements in managing athlete partnerships and driving ROI, as these are key aspects of the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for sports marketing and how your vision aligns with Speedo's brand values. Mention specific examples of successful campaigns you've led and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Highlight your experience in leading diverse teams and collaborating across functions. Provide examples of how you've inspired and mentored team members, as this is crucial for the Global Head of Sports Marketing position.
Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Illustrate your ability to develop and execute strategic marketing plans. Discuss how you've approached major events or campaigns in the past, focusing on your innovative ideas and the impact they had on brand presence and commercial success.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pentland Brands
✨Research the Brand and Its Values
Before your interview, dive deep into Speedo's brand values and recent marketing campaigns. Understanding their mission and how they position themselves in the sports market will help you align your answers with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a candidate for the Global Head of Sports Marketing, it's crucial to highlight your leadership skills. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams, managed budgets, and driven strategic initiatives in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking. Think of scenarios where you've had to negotiate with athletes or manage cross-functional teams, and be ready to discuss the outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sports Marketing
Your enthusiasm for sports and marketing should shine through. Share personal experiences or insights about the industry that illustrate your commitment and understanding of the sports marketing landscape.