Creative Artists Agency‘s CAA Sports has inked a deal to acquire global sports management consulting firm Portas Consulting.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Executive Chairman and founder David Portas and Managing Partner Donal McElwee, along with a team of 160 consultants and staff who have completed projects in more than 40 countries worldwide, will join the rebranded CAA Portas, which key offices in London, Riyadh, Dubai, and Singapore. The sports consultancy collaborates with governments, federations, Olympic committees, leagues, clubs, investors, boards, C-suite executives, senior sports leaders and private sector organizations to develop innovative strategies that improve performance, enhance participation, optimize governance, and drive commercial growth.
“The global sports marketplace is evolving rapidly, creating unprecedented opportunities for the agency and our clients in both established and emerging markets. As CAA Sports continues its international growth plan, we remain focused on creating new service offerings that we can deliver to clients to accelerate their business objectives,” said Paul Danforth, CAA Managing Director and President, CAA Sports. “Portas Consulting is a best-in-class management consultancy, whose likeminded leadership and collaborative approach to client service will fit seamlessly into the CAA Sports ecosystem. By adding this unique expertise to our already robust suite of services, we are uniquely positioned to help shape the future of the global sports industry.”
Founded in 2006, Portas Consulting offers clients a tailored specialist service and deep subject matter expertise across all areas of the sports economy. It has worked on transforming sports economies; creating national sports policies; increasing sports participation; winning bids for major events; optimizing leagues and clubs; securing increases in funding into sport at a national and city level; optimizing global sporting calendars; supporting federations, leagues and clubs with their investments and long-term commercial sustainability; and providing sports investment advisory, and feasibility studies for sports assets.
“Portas’ mission is to transform the world through sport,” said McElwee, who said the company has grown organically by 30% annually throughout the last 10 years to become the leading independent advisor to senior leaders in sport. “Our new goal is to expand even faster to create a world leading end-to-end advisory business. CAA Sports is the ideal fit to achieve this growth and diversification for the benefit of the industry, our clients, and our people.”
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval.
