Caroline McGrory
Bubbenhall,Warwickshire
Summary
Accomplished professional with expertise in chief commercial negotiation mastery and strategic business advice. Demonstrates acute commercial awareness and risk management proficiency, driving revenue growth optimisation through strategic leadership. Skilled in client relationship building and stakeholder management, with a focus on decision-making leadership and excellent diplomacy. Committed to leveraging commercial acumen for sustained business success and exploring opportunities for further career advancement.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work history
Legal Counsel
International Management Group (“IMG”)
Legal Counsel
AstraZeneca PLC
Trainee Solicitor
Pinsent Masons
Chief Legal Officer/Chief Partnerships Officer and Chief Commercial Officer
Cadillac Formula 1 Team
01.2024 - 04.2026
- Led the process for securing an entry into Formula 1 for the newest team on the grid – and the first All American Formula 1 team.
- Managed all business areas of the team (including HR, Finance, Procurement, Finance, Risk and Compliance, Facilities and Operations) until key leadership hires were recruited and in place.
- Whilst acting as Interim CCO and CPO role for 12 months, secured commercial income of US$210m for the team from a standing start.
- Responsible for all legal, governance, insurance, compliance related matters within the team – from negotiating driver contracts, regulatory changes to the sport, Concorde Agreement which governs the sport
General Counsel/Legal Director
Alpine Formula 1 Team
04.2023 - 12.2023
- Appointed to deliver a key project - to evaluate, troubleshoot and resolve the effects of a high-profile legal dispute, including rebuilding the legal team and implementing processes to minimise risk going forwards.
- Overall responsibility for legal, governance and regulatory matters within the team, working closely with the team’s ultimate shareholders, the Renault Group.
- Member of, and strategic adviser to, the Senior Management Team, with responsibility for all legal and regulatory input into the interpretation and drafting of the F1 Sporting, Technical and Financial Regulations (“cost cap”).
- Key member of the team responsible for stakeholder management involving the commercial rights holder, the sport’s regulatory body (the “FIA”), sponsors and potential investors.
- Key accomplishments included: -
- Leading discussions with the FIA’s Financial Regulations team to close loopholes in the existing cost cap regime, which resulted in a new Technical Directive being issued to all F1 teams.
- Implemented a comprehensive data protection compliance programme across the F1 team, including training for all staff.
- Worked closely with the Alpine Academy to quickly and efficiently secure driving contracts and longer-term options with a number of young drivers which were long overdue for signature.
- Negotiated a design and manufacture agreement for the team’s new motorhome/hospitality facility within tight deadlines, for roll out at the beginning of the 2024 race season.
Member of Senior Executive Team of the Organising Committee for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary, reporting to the CEO and Chair
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
04.2019 - 03.2023
- Leadership and strategic management of a high performing team of 80 individuals across multiple functional areas – Legal, Brand Protection, Human Resources and Recruitment, Compliance, Governance, Internal Communications and Engagement, Data Management and Office and Facilities Management.
- Accountability for cross functional area budgets totalling £100m, which, due to careful management and implementation of principles to ensure value for money, resulted in the team delivering the Games on time and £100m under budget.
- Trusted adviser on all corporate, governance and operational delivery matters for the Games, working closely with the Board and its Committees.
- Overarching visibility and first-hand knowledge of all ongoing operational matters resulting in active contribution to the identification, management and mitigation of all relevant delivery risks and issues, including those to be escalated for cross partner input.
- Valuable contributor to the delivery of key strategic objectives relating to the accessibility, sustainability, social value, and the legacy of the Games, including collaborating with DCMS on the Games evaluation reports (the interim report of which confirmed that the Games contributed £870m to the UK economy).
- Led the legal team on the negotiation and drafting of over 10,000 contracts, including all venue agreements for sporting competition, training, and athletes’ villages and £350m of procurement contracts for the Games.
- Providing executive level leadership to the HR team to maximise delivery model efficiencies, including implementation and alignment of the workforce plan, management of all employment issues for the 1600 employees and 14,000 volunteers, establishment of apprentice programme, policy development and implementation and safeguarding.
- Key adviser with in-depth knowledge in relation to all commercial revenue discussions including sponsorship, merchandise and licensing and ticketing and member of the Licensing Executive Group.
- Led the project for the successful implementation of new UK legislation - The Birmingham Commonwealth Games Act – in collaboration with the UK Government, which involved liaising with peers and MPs and Government officials.
- Collaborating closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the sporting federations on the preparation and implementation of all Games related policies, including the first ever Human Rights policy, incorporating key topical issues such as transgender athletes and athlete advocacy rights.
- Accountable for the Brand Protection programme, including strategy development, implementation and enforcement, training of staff and collaboration with multiple stakeholders including trading standards, media owners, commercial partners, and customs officials.
- Engaging with key stakeholders on the requirements for delivery of the host city contract, including revenue streams, government funding, governance structures and operational responsibilities in a politically focussed environment.
- Lead adviser to the Marcomms team on reputation management and media related matters, both in the run up to and crucially during Games time.
- Directed the data strategy, including all data protection matters as the company’s Data Protection Officer, which involved working closely with the marketing team and CRM provider on the collection and intelligent use of data from fans and customers to enhance fan engagement.
General Counsel/Member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO.
Leicester City Football Club
12.2016 - 03.2019
- Responsible for all legal, governance and football regulatory matters across the Club and key adviser to the CEO and the international Board based in Thailand.
- As a key member of the senior executive team, ensuring that each home match/event was delivered successfully and safely, including security, stewarding, ticketing, hospitality, and commercial signage.
- Working as a leading member of the project team in respect of the development of the new state of the art training complex for the Club and expansion of King Power Stadium.
- Member of the working group led by the CEO which led the feasibility study into securing a women’s team affiliated with the Club to compete in the inaugural Women’s Super League season.
- Spearheaded the negotiation and drafting of player and team manager contracts, introducing a modernised approach to the processes previously used at the Club (transfer agreements/image rights structures/agency agreements).
- Led the commercial negotiation and drafting of sponsorship agreements including a multi-million-pound kit deal with adidas.
- Advising on all regulatory matters, including leading the defence of proceedings against the Club in respect of breach of the Financial Fair Play Regulations, being an integral part of the negotiation of the ultimate settlement.
- Collaborating with key stakeholders such as the Premier League, the FA, and other senior Premier League Club representatives, including in relation to the national and international distribution of broadcasting income.
- Managing, together with the Director of Football and the FA, all disciplinary matters relating to the players and the Club.
- Managing the Club’s brand protection strategy including undertaking registrations worldwide in respect of the Leicester City Football Club trademark portfolio.
- Attending meetings with the Premier League and other senior Premier League Club representatives in relation to the national and international distribution of broadcasting income.
- Member of the Premier League Legal Advisory Group.
Director of Legal and Commercial Affairs and Company Secretary, reporting directly to the CEO. Member of Senior Management Team, Minority Shareholder and Director.
Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
03.2004 - 12.2016
- Responsibility for the operational, management and strategic legal and commercial matters of this leading Formula One Team, with varied ownership and international cultural structures.
- Member of the Senior Management Team involved in the management buyout from Honda to create the new Brawn GP team which won two World Championship titles (becoming a minority shareholder and Board Director). Involved at a prominent level in all strategic discussions and financial negotiations in relation to the subsequent sale of the team to Daimler.
- Key member of the negotiating team with the commercial rights holder in relation to the commercial, legal, and financial structure and organisation of the sport of F1, including the distribution of TV revenues and prize monies, the acquisition of optimal benefits for the team and dealing with regulatory entry and eligibility matters.
- Trusted adviser to the Board (which consisted of senior members of the Daimler AG Board), including preparation and presentation of Board papers and briefings on key issues.
- Joint management with the CEO of the commercial/sponsorship acquisition team which involved leading and collaborating with the commercial team to acquire new sponsorship and licensing revenues.
- Managed the implementation of a modernised commercial programme to optimise sales resulting in the negotiation and closure of multi-million-pound commercial partnerships with leading international brands – over £200m per annum of commercial revenue achieved.
- Established the merchandise and licensing strategy, which resulted in securing multi-million-pound kit and merchandise deals with Hugo Boss, Puma, and Henri Lloyd.
- Led negotiations with high profile driver signings (including personal endorsements, image rights and licensing) and drafting of contracts with drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher, and Jenson Button.
- Co-ordinated and led the team’s legal defence at numerous arbitration hearings with a 100% success rate.
- (previously known as British American Racing, BAR Honda, Honda Racing F1 and Brawn GP)
Associate Partner in Corporate Team/Head of Sports Group
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, London
London
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Established the firm’s Sports Group and led the acquisition and expansion of the firm’s sports client base. Responsibility for strategic planning and budget management, resulting in multimillion-pound increased revenue for the firm.
- Led legal negotiations on numerous corporate deals from start to completion as well as complex commercial projects.
Education
Accelerated Development Programme -
London Business School
LondonPostgraduate Diploma - EC Competition Law
King’s College London
LondonLegal Practice Course - undefined
Nottingham Law School
MA (Hons) Jurisprudence - undefined
Oxford University – St Anne’s College
A levels - undefined
Cardinal Wiseman RC School, Coventry
CoventrySkills
Chief Commercial Negotiation mastery
- Strategic business advice
- Acute commercial awareness
- Risk management proficiency
- Decision-Making leadership
- Excellent diplomacy
- Revenue growth optimisation
- Commercial acumen
- Strategic leadership
- Client relationship building
- Stakeholder management
BOARD POSITIONS AND AWARDS
Current and previous Board positions include: -, Director/Shareholder of World Championship winning Formula One team, Brawn GP., Director of British Association of Sport and Law., Director, Trustee and Chair of the Governance Committee of an independent group of education establishments., Company Secretary to Mercedes F1 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games., Pool member of the Independent Oversight Panel (Premier League Owners & Directors Test)., Listed as one of “The Lawyer Hot 100” lawyers in 2023., Winner – “Team Leader – Governance Hot 100 awards”., Winner “In House Legal Team of the Year” (Birmingham Law Society), shortlisted Lexis Nexis “In House Team of the Year” and runner up “Technology, Media and Sport Team of the Year”., Contributed and participated in the four part Documentary entitled “Brawn: The Impossible Formula One Story”, narrated by Hollywood legend, Keanu Reeves.
OTHER
- Active mentor and coach to up-and-coming females in cross functional operational areas and contributory member of the Women at Work group at Birmingham 2022.
- Achieved on multiple occasions the title of “World Irish Dancing Champion” and qualified Irish Dance teacher/adjudicator.
- Avid sports fan and participator – Captain of University Women’s football, field hockey and tennis teams.
Timeline
Chief Legal Officer/Chief Partnerships Officer and Chief Commercial Officer
Cadillac Formula 1 Team
01.2024 - 04.2026
General Counsel/Legal Director
Alpine Formula 1 Team
04.2023 - 12.2023
Member of Senior Executive Team of the Organising Committee for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary, reporting to the CEO and Chair
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
04.2019 - 03.2023
General Counsel/Member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO.
Leicester City Football Club
12.2016 - 03.2019
Director of Legal and Commercial Affairs and Company Secretary, reporting directly to the CEO. Member of Senior Management Team, Minority Shareholder and Director.
Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
03.2004 - 12.2016
Associate Partner in Corporate Team/Head of Sports Group
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, London
01.2002 - 01.2004
Legal Counsel
International Management Group (“IMG”)
Legal Counsel
AstraZeneca PLC
Trainee Solicitor
Pinsent Masons
Postgraduate Diploma - EC Competition Law
King’s College London
Legal Practice Course - undefined
Nottingham Law School
MA (Hons) Jurisprudence - undefined
Oxford University – St Anne’s College
A levels - undefined
Cardinal Wiseman RC School, Coventry
Accelerated Development Programme -
London Business School