Global executive search firm, Grace Blue, has opened its new sports, media & entertainment practice, and appointed Tim Palmer, formerly SVP Global Recruitment of Endeavor, as managing partner. He will lead the new Practice which will operate alongside Grace Blue’s existing practices for consumer brands and agencies and follows a sustained increase in briefs for sports, media & entertainment clients including the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Scottish Rugby Union, Lego, Amazon, and Spotify.
As lead, Palmer’s remit will be to build on this emerging area and help meet the growing demand from sports, media & entertainment companies wishing to attract talent from beyond their own competitive sets to accelerate business transformation. Palmer has two decades of experience in the global sports, media & entertainment space, working for executive search firms as well as leading in-house functions within Broadcast (Sky), Publishing (HarperCollins), Music (Universal Music). Most recently, he oversaw recruitment for global entertainment, sports & content company, Endeavor (WME, IMG, 160over90, UFC, Endeavor Streaming & On Location).
Juliet Timms, founder & global CEO, Grace Blue, said: “The UK is set to become the largest European market in media & entertainment with strong growth forecast across the category worldwide. This is the perfect moment to launch our new dedicated sports, media & entertainment practice and I’m excited that Tim is joining our business to help us make the very best of the opportunity.”
Tim Palmer, Managing Partner, Grace Blue, said: “I’ve known Juliet, Jay, and Sarah for a number of years and, as a former Grace Blue client, I’m thrilled to now join the business and lead the Sports, Media & Entertainment Practice. The massive changes seen in this sector have opened the talent market significantly, creating opportunities for innovative individuals from Agency, Brand and Consumer worlds to join and drive transformation. Grace Blue is uniquely positioned to help existing and new clients find the right talent and I’m excited to be a part of this.”
Sarah Skinner, CEO, EMEA, Grace Blue, added: “Business models in the sports, media & entertainment category are having to radically adapt in response to huge changes in consumer behaviour brought about by new technologies and by the pandemic. This requires new skills and fresh perspectives from leadership teams, especially around areas of data and insights, creativity, technology, commercialisation, and audience engagement. Our new practice will help companies find the transformational leadership talent they need to succeed and thrive.”
Shona Bell, chief people & engagement officer, Scottish Rugby, added: “Grace Blue look beyond the obvious, bringing a valuable and fresh perspective to sourcing great talent.”
