Jackie Bass
London
Summary
A highly proficient and energetic communications and broadcast manager with 25 years' experience of working in the sports industry.
A confident team player as well as a self-starter, I have enjoyed a variety of roles throughout my career. This has provided me with a valuable and varied insight into sport, from several different perspectives. I thrive on pressure and my track record reflects the work I have done to improve press relations, increase broadcast coverage, participation and attendances and ultimately maximise profits and brand recognition. I am adaptable and flexible, confident in my ability to manage and respond to change.
I have numerous, excellent professional relationships with high profile sports personalities, managers, members of the media, governing bodies and organisations across men and women's football and across domestic and European competitions.
I enjoy strong relationships with general managers, managers and coaching staff in the women's game having worked both agency and broadcast side. This coupled with my super power of being a trusted friend to parents of young players in the game has always made me one of the top choices when deciding on an agency for their child.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Manager, Women's Football Europe
The Team
2023.09 - 2026.03
- Maintaining a dual role to manage the every day needs of high profile talent in the women's game as well as diary management of the VP of Women's Football Europe. This includes scouting at U21 and WSL fixtures to find new talent - Chloe Sarwie being the biggest success story to date - as well as running the every day lives, shoots and commercial deals of our roster from Lioness to Championship players.
- Travelling abroad with England women's U17s, 19s and 23s to support current clients and report back on new leads. Educating and entertaining parents to get them to the boardroom where I can present the representation plan to them, put together with our analysis team.
- First point of contact with brands such as Adidas, Nike, Oakley, Vogue, Netflix, Burberry and Adobe to ensure their deliverables are met. Leading on shoot days to ensure a happy and harmonious working environment.
- On constant call for talent and their parents as well as liaising with governing bodies, broadcasters and partners to maximise income and impact.
- Singed ten young Lionesses to the roster in the last year, ranging from U16 to U23s.
UWCL/Euro - Venue Operations and Broadcast Manager
UEFA
2024.09 - 2026.03
- Responsible for broadcast and operations at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge for the 2024-25 season and Arsenal at Meadow Park and the Emirates 2025-26.
- Overseeing commercial and broadcast operations at match venues, ensuring the smooth implementation of sponsor rights, and managing various aspects of event-day logistics. Duties include coordinating with broadcast partners, managing VIPs in hospitality, ticketing, signage and liaising with internal UEFA divisions and external stakeholders.
- Building relationships with some of the best players and managers across Europe so they understand broadcast requirements on match day and MD-1.
- On site in Dortmund for the duration of Euro2024 up until the semi-finals working within the broadcast team. Liaising with broadcasters from across the world to guide them through the entire booking process to ensure an efficient on-site delivery.
- First point of contact for post match interviews in the flash area for teams such as England, Italy, France, Germany and Portugal, servicing up to 80 interviews per match. Working with national associations to ensure they service rightsholders in a timely and effective fashion, including the MD-1 press conference. Coordinated all unilateral services deliveries at the venues and provided them with full support in the implementation of their on-site unilateral operations.
WSL Match Manager
The Football Association
2021.08 - 2024.05
- Responsible for the collating and planning of the match day, ensuring both club and broadcaster are across all elements of the broadcast. As the sole Match Manager for the WSL, attending every live game each weekend alongside Sky or the BBC as well as unilateral international broadcasters.
- As a new role, this involved creating planning documents and cultivating relationships that benefit both club and broadcaster at the beginning of a landmark £24m deal.
- Being a source of support and experience with clubs who hadn't dealt with live TV broadcasts before and ensuring managers and players understood rightsholder requirements
- The role also included planning and running the pre season content days for broadcast rightsholders.
Spectator Experience and Ceremonies Coordinator
UEFA Women's Euro 2022
2022.06 - 2022.07
- Managing venue level deployment plans and on-site deliverables for Brighton & Hove Albion's AMEX Stadium.
- Overseeing the delivery of Spectator Experience, venue specific plans including match day schedules, volunteer deployment plans and entertainment activations. Delivering Sports Presentation and Ceremonies including rehearsals in conjunction with the appointed Sport Presentation agency and/or suppliers to include technical installation, allocation of venue facilities and management of participants.
- Ensuring all match day plans are well communicated to the venue team and represent the functional area within any venue level escalation processes. Training, managing, briefing and deploying the Spectator Services Workforce. (Between 35-75 volunteers)
- Adaptation of document templates such as production schedules, running orders and PA scripts to create match specific versions.
Broadcast Match Manager
The Premier League
2014.08 - 2020.05
- Working within the Broadcast Operations department overseeing the match day broadcast and working as a conduit between stakeholders. An experienced content producer working on live outside broadcasting of elite sport and offering strong editorial judgement. Managing domestic and international content and commercial rights. Building relationships with key staff, to deliver a smooth broadcast operation from rig to de-rig and ensure everyone had all relevant information well ahead of schedule.
- Working alongside tens of media rights licensees on match days to ensure content is delivered effectively to both UK and overseas channels. This included the preparation of pre-match production documentation and camera plans for broadcasters and clubs, managing unilateral and multilateral interview requests and being the "go to" person for all issues on site.
Team Marketing and Commercial Manager
The Football League
2009.01 - 2014.05
- Responsible for distributing c£10m of TV syndication money and account managing 43 clubs in the south of England (From Premier League to Non-League) to increase their offline and digital revenue streams. Provided advice and guidance on increasing profit margins, advising managers, players, CEOs and staff. More specifically, I provided crucial client support to clubs throughout the build and development of 86 new websites.
Communications Officer
Watford FC
2007.01 - 2009.01
- The first point of contact for media and external communications, handling media relations, internal communications, community relations, broadcasting, publications, and PR support for sales and sponsorships. Responsible for developing a comprehensive PR strategy for the club and implemented plans to both heighten the organisation's visibility, ensuring a consistent message with the local and national media and general public.
Communications Manager
QPR FC
2004.01 - 2007.01
- Overall responsibility for the football club's communications and public relations function including the management of a team of three. Day to day duties include running the press office and responding to press enquiries and also questions from supporters.
- Commissioning, filing and proofing articles for the website and matchday programme to strict deadlines. Interviewing players, staff and the Club Manager and Chairman for the website and programme and issuing statements on a variety of potentially sensitive matters relating to the club.
Education
A-Levels - English Literature, Psychology, Computer Science
Chingford Sixth Form
London 1996.09 - 1998.05
Skills
- Broadcast Operations
- Talent Scouting
- Talent Management
- Football Journalist
- PR and Communications
- Player Care
- Shorthand 100wpm
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
Languages
German
Beginner
Timeline
UWCL/Euro - Venue Operations and Broadcast Manager
UEFA
2024.09 - 2026.03
Manager, Women's Football Europe
The Team
2023.09 - 2026.03
Spectator Experience and Ceremonies Coordinator
UEFA Women's Euro 2022
2022.06 - 2022.07
WSL Match Manager
The Football Association
2021.08 - 2024.05
Broadcast Match Manager
The Premier League
2014.08 - 2020.05
Team Marketing and Commercial Manager
The Football League
2009.01 - 2014.05
Communications Officer
Watford FC
2007.01 - 2009.01
Communications Manager
QPR FC
2004.01 - 2007.01
A-Levels - English Literature, Psychology, Computer Science
Chingford Sixth Form
1996.09 - 1998.05