Media and sports organisations operate in dynamic industries shaped by changing consumer behaviour, digital platforms and evolving commercial models. Streaming services, global fan engagement and new content distribution models have transformed how media and sports businesses grow their audiences and generate revenue.
At Ascent Professional Services, we are management consulting recruiters, specialising in recruiting strategy, commercial and digital talent for organisations across media and sport. We secure consultants and strategic industry professionals capable of delivering measurable commercial results.
Whether you are building a strategy function, developing new revenue streams or expanding digital capability, we headhunt candidates who can make a difference from day one.
Why media and sports organisations choose us for strategy recruitment
We specialise in finding and placing strategy and consulting grade talent. Our clients partner with us because:
We recruit consultants and strategic professionals with experience in strategy, commercial growth, digital transformation and advisory roles.
We understand media and sports strategy disciplines including content strategy, audience growth, media rights, sponsorship and digital monetisation.
We prioritise candidates who can influence stakeholders and deliver commercial outcomes.
We recruit across all seniority levels from Analyst and Consultant through Manager, Senior Manager, Director and Head of Strategy roles.
We support both consulting and industry hires, placing former consultants into strategy teams within media organisations and sports bodies.
Our placements perform. 91 percent of the candidates we place remain employed after 12 months.
Strategy and commercial capability areas we recruit for
- Media and content strategy
- Audience and fan engagement strategy
- Digital platform and streaming strategy
- Commercial partnerships and sponsorship strategy
- Commercial due diligence
- Media rights strategy
- Pricing and revenue optimisation
- Data and analytics strategy
- Innovation and new proposition development
Results we have delivered in media and sports recruitment
We have supported consulting firms, digital platforms and major sports organisations in building high performing strategy and commercial teams.
- 30 plus strategic and consulting placements across media and sports sectors
- 89 percent of candidates headhunted from consulting or high performing strategy backgrounds
- 92 percent interview success rate for shortlisted candidates
- 91 percent 12 month retention rate
- Successful strategy team build outs for UK and global organisations
Meet our sports and media specialist: Josh Bayford – Principal Consultant
Josh Bayford leads our sports and media recruitment specialism at Ascent Professional Services. Having joined the business in 2015, Josh has built deep experience recruiting strategy and advisory professionals across the broader TMT landscape, with a particular focus on sport, media and tech.
Josh works with consulting firms, sports organisations, media companies and digital platforms to identify high calibre strategy talent capable of delivering commercial impact. His experience across advisory recruitment means he understands the strategic, commercial and digital challenges organisations face as these sectors continue to evolve.
He supports clients hiring across a range of roles including strategy, commercial transformation, growth strategy and digital initiatives within media and sports organisations.
Why work with a specialist sports and media recruiter?
Hiring in sports and media often requires more than general market knowledge. Organisations need candidates who understand commercial rights, fan engagement, sponsorship dynamics and the increasing role of digital platforms in shaping audience growth.
Our specialist approach means we identify consultants and strategic professionals who combine strong advisory experience with an understanding of the commercial realities of the sports and media industries.
This allows us to connect organisations with candidates who can contribute quickly and deliver measurable strategic impact.
FAQs
Q1. What types of roles do you recruit for in media and sports?
We recruit strategy, commercial, digital, pricing, growth and analytics roles across media companies, sports organisations and entertainment businesses.
Q2. Do your candidates come from consulting backgrounds?
Many candidates come from consulting firms. We also work with strategic industry professionals who have delivered impactful initiatives within media or sports organisations.
Q3. Do you recruit internationally?
Yes. We support hiring across the UK, Europe and globally.
Q4. What seniority levels do you recruit for?
We recruit from Analyst and Consultant through Manager, Director and Head of Strategy roles.
Looking to build your media or sports strategy team?
Whether you are expanding commercial strategy, building digital capability or hiring leaders to drive audience growth, we can connect you with strategy professionals who deliver results.
Get in touch
If you’d like to discuss how we can collaborate with your team and support your recruitment strategy, just get in touch: