Mitch Phillips

In 14 years as Reuters EMEA Sports Editor I was responsible for the long-term planning and delivery of the agency's major event coverage as well as overseeing the day-to-day output from the team of reporters and stringers across the region. I also and liaised with our TV and pictures departments as we moved into a more cohesive multi-media operation.

Alongside my management role, throughout this period I continued to work as a front-line reporter, specialising in football, rugby, athletics, tennis, golf, Olympics, doping and sports politics. I have attended nine soccer World Cups, eight European Championships, eight Summer and four Winter Olympics, eight Rugby World Cups, seven World Athletics Championships, seven Ryder Cups and myriad other major events across a huge range of sports.

I joined Reuters as a reporter/sub in 1997 and had a variety of roles over the next decade. I became Chief Sports Correspondent, Head of Soccer, Head of UK Sport and Sports News Editor before becoming EMEA Sports Editor, while also acting as Chief Correspondent for football, rugby, athletics, golf, triathlon and "doping".

As part of a small but vibrant agency team battling against industry giants I had broad responsibilities at UPI that included reporting, desking and planning coverage of the desk's daily output alongside planning major event coverage.