Team
Kazim AtillaClose
Founder / CEO
Kazim has been in a leadership role for many companies and has had roles that include board member, CEO, COO, CCO, CFO, Product Ownership and Global Head of Sales & Marketing. He has successfully led in vertical markets such as Real Estate, Entertainment, Renewable Energy, Technologies, Financial Services, Retail, Healthcare as well as horizontally focused platforms. A highly regarded globally-minded, data-driven and results-oriented senior executive with 25+ years of international business experience, business development and investments.
Meirav HarelClose
COO
Head of Strategic Innovation Technologies at BDO, Certified Mediator, Former Bancor COO, and chosen twice for “Women in Fintech Powerlist” by Innovate Finance UK, I am a financial-technology innovator, specializing in Trading and Investment Interfaces, with 7.5 years of experience in business development of “Leumi Trade” , Bank Leumi’s award winning Capital Market Trading website. An executive advisor to Regulators, International Enterprises, and to Startups, about fintech, innovation and bridging the gap between Traditional expertise and the new Financial world being created in FinTech, Blockchain and beyond.
Avi PolakClose
CCO
Avi is a seasoned executive specialized in various Business Development and Sales management roles in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, Latin-America, and Europe-Middle-East-Africa. Avi is responsible of the customer and the customer interface with the product or service offering, making sure that all functions of the organization are aligned to meet the company’s strategic commercial objectives. He is closely linked to the organization’s strategic management function, in drafting, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that will enable IQONIQ to achieve its long-term objective. Avi has over 20 years experience in business development and sales on international level.
Dennis ContrerasClose
CFO
Dennis P. Contreras is adjunct professor at the ISG International Business School. His teaching specializations concern investment banking, portfolio management, corporate finance, derivatives, cash management, strategic & financial Analysis, IPO valuation, M&A analysis. Associate Professor of Finance teaching, investment banking and private equity with business cases. His area of expertise concern Investment banking and business development. Over 25 years experience in finance and business development.
Greg IvryClose
CBDO NA
Greg joins IQONIQ with more than 15 years of experience as a business development leader with a track record of driving growth across sports, media, technology, and e-commerce. Prior to joining IQONIQ, Greg spent ten years with StubHub as it became the eighth fastest-growing company in the United States, establishing more than 100 partners across the sports and entertainment industry, and the U.S. Collegiate system. Greg then joined DraftKings in 2015 as the Senior Director of Business Development for 4 years, helping to build partnerships with a host of sports properties, including UFC, MLS, NASCAR, and numerous teams in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. He brings with him highly specialised skills in developing and executing complex strategies in the ticketing, sponsorship, talent, and fantasy verticals.
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Ofer GabayClose
Acting CTO
Highly-motivated project/program manager with a 13 year record of successful launching, directing and managing of large scale projects. Proven ability to successfully lead a program from initial proposal through production implementation. Strategic thinker with a solution-based approach for exceeding customer requirements and expectations. Over 15 years experience in IT development.
Juli Ferré NadalClose
Head of Brand Partnerships
Juli Ferré Nadal has more than 15 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business, starting at Cirque du Soleil and including FCBarcelona, where he led the Global Sponsorship department. Juli has a multi-sport background, being part of FIFA Beach Soccer and FIBA, the international basketball Federation based near Geneva. In his most recent role, he managed the Commercial and Marketing department of AS Monaco FC. This vast experience has enabled Juli to develop solid relationships on sports at an international level.
Advisors
Sam LiClose
Experienced global sports industry executive; advisor, mentor, and investor to early stage sports tech startups.Currently runs all international aspects of Sina Sports and Weibo Sports, one of the largest sports digital media and social media platforms in China. Partnerships with all major international sports leagues, organizations, teams, and athletes. Former Vice President at NBA.
Broad and extensive experience in working with startup founders on strategy, media rights, fan engagement, social media, fundraising, deal sourcing, esports, athletes performance, health and wellness, and legal.
Speaker at industry conferences including Leaders, SportsPro, SportsAccord, Sportel, APOS, All That Matters, SPIA, Soccerex, etc.
Daniele SanoClose
I’ve been working in the Sports Business industry since my postgraduate studies dealing with top properties in different sports at local and global level. Having negotiated strategic partnerships and sponsorship deals of all dimensions from the side of the buyer (brand), of the seller (rights holder) and of the advisor (agency) I’ve developed a deep knowledge and competence of all aspects related to the investments in sports, from legal, to marketing and communication.A proven track record in sales, successful negotiations, development and implementation of marketing and sponsorship strategies.
Itai RauchClose
Itai brings close to 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and business alliances creation .Over the last 8 yrs itai served at Google and specialized in developing effective channels to promote and sell Google’s Ad-tech and cloud services.
Prior to joining Google, he co- founded and led a startup that utilized face
recognition and computer vision to provide in-depth personality evaluation according to facial features.
Tracey DeforgeClose
An attorney by training, an entrepreneur in spirit, and an executive leader through experience, my career has focused for more than a decade in the sports industry on start-up companies, technology offerings, and pioneering business initiatives.After earning my J.D. at Seton Hall, I went to work for the National Hockey League (NHL) and then Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLB.com). Ever since, I’ve worked at the unique intersection of sports, entertainment/media, and technology – including COO of a pioneering mobile video SaaS offering targeting sports broadcasters and partner in a venture investment firm focused on sports and entertainment firms.
I have been intimately involved in all aspects of entrepreneurship, from envisioning the concept, business planning, hiring, operations build out, funds raising, strategic partnerships, outsourcing, finances, marketing, and more.
With a focus on action and results, I am a leader who jumps into the trenches, learning and then executing the necessary steps to achieve goals, enthusiastically working to keep everything moving forward to make our shared vision a reality.
J.B. BernsteinClose
A “Genetically Wired Entrepreneur”, Bernstein has helped fund and successfully launch businesses in Packaged Goods, Trading Cards, Digital Content, Sports, TV, Supplements, Building Blocks, & New Tech. His most recent investment in AviSight, a leading drone based Industrial Inspection company, was so intriguing, he accepted the role of CEO and is ushering in a generational paradigm shift in the industry for Oil, Gas, & Power companies worldwide.As a 35+ year veteran of the sports marketing and packaged goods industries, Mr. Bernstein has been called an “Evolutionary Force Multiplier” in business, and is widely respected for his creative problem solving and positive results. Bernstein’s early work includes positions with Grey Advertising, Procter & Gamble, Upper Deck, and Major League Soccer before starting his own sports agency.
As founder of Access Group of Miami, LLC, he has represented some of the greatest athletes of all-time including Barry Bonds, Barry Sanders & Emmitt Smith. Bernstein was responsible for creating groundbreaking programs such as Smith’s Run With History™ which is now the standard deal in NFL for milestone marketing. He also helped orchestrate Barry Bonds’ departure from the MLBPA licensing group, making him the first baseball player to successfully operate outside of their auspices.
Most notably, Bernstein co-created The Million Dollar Arm™ (www.TheMillionDollarArm.com) contest in India, which yielded the first 2 Indian men to ever sign pro sports contracts in the US. J.B.’s story was the subject of a Disney motion picture, released worldwide on May 16, 2014. The film starred Jon Hamm as Bernstein.
J.B. serves as the chair of the Las Vegas Tiger 21 chapter, the premier peer membership organization for high-net-worth wealth creators and preservers helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities that success creates.
Mr. Bernstein graduated the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has also achieved graduate degrees from USC and LSE. Bernstein currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife and daughter.
“If you are going to spend your life running anyway, you might as well be chasing your dreams.”
J.B. Bernstein
Amir SomoggiClose
Managing Director Sports Value+24 years’ experience with marketing
+17 years’ experience at Sports Industry
Consultancy to clubs, sponsors, agencies, and investors. Experience in sport marketing projects, sponsorship, branding, clubs´ globalization projects, financial viability, and business planning.
Helped dozens of clients develop their business in sports, both in marketing and management projects. Specialties: sports marketing, branding, sponsorships, and valuations.
Deep knowledge about Football Industry in Europe and US Professional Leagues and the applicability for the Brazilian market. Responsible for new concepts of professional management of football clubs in Brazil.
Responsible for the publication of hundreds of surveys and researches about Sports Business.
Sean CallananClose
I founded Sports Geek to work with sports teams, leagues and athletes helping them grow revenue from digital efforts. I am now in esports as owner of Gravitas a professional League of Legends in OPL.Want to chat esports, sports, tech or podcasting? Please get in touch.
I enjoy connecting with people in sports business specifically marketing and technology, I’d love to connect as Sports Geek has grown thanks to meeting and learning from others. I hope you enjoy the content I share on LinkedIn.
Please connect and get in touch if you have a question especially if you’ve listened to my podcasts or seen me speak.
TLDR version
After 15 year career in IT development I wanted to follow my passion for sports and technology, that passion is now known as Sports Geek. “Connecting sports, fans & sponsors using technology” was the mission and now we are connected with sports fans working with sports teams and leagues around the world.
Over the years I’ve has worked with professional teams to understand what content fans want, how to develop digital teams to deliver that content and how to commercialise digital fans with membership, merchandise and sponsor promotions. If you want to maximise your digital efforts then please give me a call, tweet or email.
I can talk… a lot. That is why I started Sports Geek Podcast, each week I get to chat with leading sports executives around the world. I’ve been absolutely humbled by the response to the podcast from sports executives listening in USA, UK, Europe and of course Australia. Highlights have been interviews with sports business professionals in NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, AFL, NRL so far and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on episode #62. Sports Geek podcast is available on all podcast platforms.
Like I said earlier, I talk a lot and that leads to speaking opportunities in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Boston and San Francisco. If you need someone to talk about digital, sports, esports then please get in touch I’d be happy to help you out.
Marcus LuerClose
Founder & Group CEO of TSA Group (Total Sports Asia), Asia’s global leader in sports content, consulting and branding solutions. Founded TSA 23 years ago, the group has generated over US$ 500 million for rights holders globally, includes Total Esports (TES) & Branded Real Estate (BRE). Marcus is also Co-founder of Glory Kickboxing, the #1 Kickboxing League.Marcus created & hosts the Sports Entrepreneurs Podcast, check out the amazing interviews with top minds in the industry www.marcusluer/podcast
Marcus is the only Asian based Sports Marketing Executive who was voted into the top 200 SBI (Sports Business International) Team, comprising of the most influential leaders in the industry over the past 18 years.
Marcus is a thought after industry expert, consulting to both Rights Holders and multinational corporations and has been featured on CNBC, BBC News, Bloomberg Asia, global wire services and magazines.
TSA Group has been a pioneer in the Asian sports marketing space for the past 23 years and has generated over USD 500 million for rights holders globally, with over 600 past/present staff and offices across the region. We provide services in media rights distribution, sponsorship, venue commercialization, Football agent, events management, licensing and consulting. We work with major Olympic sports federations, top European Football Clubs, F1 teams and governments in Asia. We are also now in E-Sports and generating new revenue for publishers, promoters and teams.
We are the lead commercial consultant for KL SPORTS CITY, Malaysia’s sports & entertainment capital and created the Axiata Arena and also developing a 10 year Sports Masterplan for a particular State in the country.
Our BRE Division is the leading agency for branded Real Estate Licensing projects in Asia, incld deals with luxury brands like Armani, Swarovski and sports brands from US Open Tennis to Michael Schumacher.
Sportsfix, was our foray into digital and Asean’s first true OTT SPORTS platform, including Blockchain technology. Unfortunately, we were ahead of the curve.
We incubated and created Glory Kickboxing in 2012, which has now become the #1 Kickboxing League in the world.
