Head of Business Development

Leaders Group are seeking a high-impact Head of Business Development to lead strategic revenue growth across our global B2B media and events portfolio. This executive will own a $2M–$3M+ annual book of business, drive net-new revenue, and expand our global footprint by developing partnerships with leading brands, agencies, technology companies, rights holders, and major stakeholders across the sports industry. 

The ideal candidate is a hunter with a proven record of closing complex, multi-year deals across media partnerships, integrated content programs, premium B2B event sponsorships, thought leadership, and multi-platform marketing partnerships. The role requires strong comfort in a paywalled media environment, deep understanding of the global sports ecosystem, and fluency in shaping editorially aligned commercial opportunities. 

Due to the global nature of this role, the best-fit candidate will have international contacts in and knowledge of the global sports industry.

Key Responsibilities 

• Revenue Leadership & Growth for Leaders Group, LLC

• Own and grow a $2M–$3M+ annual book of business, delivering consistent net-new revenue growth as well as company critical renewals. 

• Identify, prospect, and close new business with brands, sports properties, agencies, tech companies, and global enterprise partners. 

• Develop integrated commercial solutions across paywalled media, custom content, digital, newsletters, podcasts, research, and B2B events. 

• Build long-term revenue strategies aligned with company priorities and market demand. 

• Be a brand and premium representative for Leaders Group commercial strategy with the most influential and senior executives in the worldwide sports industry.

Partnership Development 

• Maintain and grow various international sports markets through creative, comprehensive sponsorships, particularly in the Middle East. 

• Lead development and negotiation of high-value media partnerships and global sponsorship agreements, including Leaders Group flagship events Leaders Week London and World Congress of Sport. 

• Grow sponsorship revenue across summits, conferences, awards programs, forums, and custom event platforms. 

• Manage senior-level relationships with C-suite and commercial leaders across the global sports business landscape. 

• Ensure exceptional client service to drive retention, upsell, and multi-year renewals. 

• Develop frameworks for opportunity prioritization and partnership qualification. 

Market & Strategic Insight 

• Stay ahead of global sports trends—media, technology, venues, teams, leagues, investment—to inform partnership and overall company commercial strategy. 

• Partner cross-functionally with Editorial, Events, Audience Development, Marketing, and Product teams to build differentiated, category-leading offerings. 

• Deliver market intelligence, pipeline insights, forecasting, and revenue projections to the CRO and senior leadership. 

• Responsible for accurate forecasting both short and long term 

Leadership & Collaboration 

• Mentor junior commercial talent as the team expands, providing coaching on enterprise dealmaking and consultative sales. 

• Be a key voice on the commercial leadership team to support the development of the sales team through coaching and mentorship. 

• Represent the brand at major global industry events, panels, meetings, and partner gatherings. 

Compensation 

• Competitive executive base salary 

• Commission and performance-based incentive structure
• Global travel as business requires

This role can be based either the UK or US.

Requirements

Qualifications 

• 10–15+ years of business development, strategic partnerships, commercial strategy, or enterprise sales experience. 

• Proven success owning and growing a $2M–$3M+ book of business, with a strong hunter mindset and demonstrated overachievement. 

• Experience selling media partnerships, integrated content programs, and B2B event sponsorships, ideally in a subscription-based or paywalled media environment. 

• Strong international experience and familiarity with global sports business decision-makers, ecosystems, and commercial structures. 

• Demonstrated ability to frame, negotiate, and close complex high-value partnership packages. 

• Excellent communication, proposal development, and storytelling skills. 

• Strategic, entrepreneurial, and highly collaborative mindset. 

Benefits

• Enhanced family leave policies
• Pension scheme
• Simply Health membership
• Access to gym membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• 26 days annual leave + half a day for your birthday + additional day for every 2 years' service
• Interest free season ticket loan