Ferran Soriano (Lic&MBA 90) will be the speaker at the next Matins ESADE talk “The future of football”. Ferran is the CEO of City Football Group, a company that includes seven football clubs on five continents and football-related businesses in 12 countries.
What is the future of football? A global entertainment industry? Part of the local fabric of associations? An educational platform? What is its role in society?
Football, the biggest worldwide sport, has become a global entertainment industry. Some argue that this marketing runs contrary to its role in society and its positive educational impact, but this is not the case. It is a phenomenon with deep-seated local roots and a global impact like no other. The City Football Group model is an example.
This industry, like many others, faces challenges from technology and consumer behaviour. One essential, long-term question remains: will young people in the year 2040 be interested in watching other people taking part in sport or will they spend their time on other forms of entertainment?
A match is a metaphor of life. Life in 90 minutes in a small space. What management lessons can the game offer? Leadership, team management, resilience.
Ferran Soriano i Compte
Ferran Soriano i Compte was born in Barcelona in 1967. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and MBA (ESADE, 1990). During his career spanning almost 30 years, he has worked in strategic consulting, FMCG, telecommunications, aviation and football. Co-founder of the consultancy Cluster Consulting which increased in size to 500 employees in 8 countries. Vice-president and managing director of FC Barcelona in 2003-2008. Currently CEO of City Football Group, a company that includes seven football clubs on five continents and football-related business in twelve countries. Investments include Manchester City FC and Girona FC.
