MP & Silva appoints Chris Lencheski to head global sponsorship division

Global sports marketing agency MP & Silva has appointed Chris Lencheski (pictured) as interim global commercial partnerships director to lead its global sponsorship division. Lencheski will be based in New York.Lencheski has over 20 years of professional experience and most recently served as vice chairman and CEO of IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE) for close to two years. Under his leadership, IRGSE expanded into Australia, acquired content from NASCAR to Red Bull Global Rally Cross and orchestrated the return of IRG motorsports sanctioning bodies after a 19-year absence to global television. Lencheski also oversaw the development of a digital platform with the ESPN family of networks.Prior to IRGSE, Lencheski was president of Comcast-Spectators’ subsidiary Front Row Marketing and Analytics (FRMS) for three years. According to Lencheski's LinkedIn, he managed all aspects of profit and loss, including the reorganisation of the operating group.  He created a single strategy for the umbrella positioning of Comcast-Spectators and FRMS within the Comcast ecosystem, as well as realised 40% year-on-year growth in new business and client portfolio revenue. Lencheski's work also included collaborations with the Americas' Cup, English Premier League, the Olympics, Formula One and World Cup.“I am pleased to join MP & Silva at this exciting time in the company’s growth and transformation. Having been involved with some of the company’s high-level deals as an advisor, I look forward to continuing my close relationship with the entire team, and the opportunity to help build upon and drive the future growth of MP & Silva’s commercial rights and sponsorship business silo in the US and globally," Lencheski said.“MP & Silva is rapidly expanding beyond its historic expertise in media rights into a full-service sports marketing agency. Lencheski will drive growth in this strategically important area of the company," Jochen Lösch, CEO of MP & Silva, said.MP & Silva has also made some appointments in the Asia Pacific region this year. In May, appointed Alex Wee as director, brand partnerships (Asia Pacific). Wee is responsible for delivering new commercial partnerships and sponsorship opportunities, as well as building relationships with brands and clients across the region.Earlier this year, it promoted Suhyeon Cho to chief commercial officer from managing director, Japan and Korea. In his previous role, Cho was responsible for all company operations in Japan and Korea. It also named Wu Swee Sin as managing director of Asia Pacific. In January, it brought on board Wu Swee Sin as managing director of Asia Pacific. The regions exclude China, Japan and Korea. Wu has over two decades of international management experience.