Premier Sports Network has agreed a new partnership with one of the world's leading global public relations firms to support sports organisations and athletes with unrivalled sports communications and marketing.

Premier Sports Network is delighted to announce it has partnered with Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading global communications and marketing solutions agencies, to help sports organisations and professional athletes make the most of global marketing and brand communication opportunities.

Founded in 2015, Premier Sports Network is the largest private network to the global sports industry, prioritising driving education to support and guide elite-level sports organisations and athletes behind the scenes. The move signifies Premier Sports Network’s commitment to not only improve the fan base of an athlete or organisation, but to help tell their stories across the world.

The impact of sports marketing on brand perception is more powerful than it has ever been, and Weber Shandwick’s experience in the field stands unrivalled. The agency’s work with some of the biggest sports brands across the globe is fuelling the imagination and aspiration of billions of sports fans, delivering campaigns to launch new tournaments with leading global sports bodies, supporting winning Olympic bids, leading crisis communications responses and developing innovative sponsorship campaigns.

Alongside promoting growth and positive change across the industry, a key focus of the partnership will be advising on the important role PR plays in the career development of an athletes. Working in conjunction with agents, teams, advertisers, and the media to develop an individual’s brand off the pitch, emphasis will be placed on equipping young athletes with the tools to maximise their position in the public eye as part of our Life Skills initiative.

Data-led communications, with earned ideas at the core, Weber Shandwick deploys leading and emerging technologies to inform strategy, develop critical insights and make a lasting impact via sports communications and marketing. It’s expertise will enable the Network members to build and protect their reputation within the sporting world, and beyond.

Kai McKechnie, Head of Marketing at Premier Sports Network said: “Public relations plays a much bigger role in the sporting fraternity than people may think. Today, PR touches almost every part of both the commercial and competitive sides of sport, from promotional campaigns and charity drives to fan engagement and tournament or league operations. We are looking forward to working with Weber Shandwick as we continue to bring new opportunities to supporting clubs with their global brand communication strategies, in addition to helping athletes to grow their profiles commercially.”

Chris Harris, Director, Client Experience at Weber Shandwick said: “We’re delighted to become Premier Sports Network’s communications partner and look forward to working alongside the many great organisations and clubs that form part of the network, helping them tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the sports industry today.

Whether it is pushing forward with purpose-driven and creative campaigns that demonstrate the real impact sport can have on society, or responding in a quickly unfolding crisis, it’s never been a more exciting or challenging time for comms in sport.

We’re excited to bring the experience we have built over the years working with brands, associations and sponsors across the industry to the Premier Sports Network members in the coming months.”

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications network and delivers next-generation solutions to brands, businesses and organisations in major markets around the world.

Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, Weber Shandwick have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Weber Shandwick was named to Ad Age’s Agency A-List in 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019. Weber Shandwick was also honoured as PRovake’s Global Agency of the Decade in 2020 and PRWeek’s Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The firm has earned more than 135 Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Data-led communications, with earned ideas at the core, the agency deploys leading and emerging technologies to inform strategy, develop critical insights and heighten communications impact across sectors and speciality areas, including brand and B2B marketing, sports communications and marketing, healthcare marketing, change management, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis management, data and analytics, technology, public affairs, social impact and financial communications. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).

For more information, visit www.webershandwick.co.uk