MBP today announces that Ian Childs has stepped down from his role of Managing Director of the relationship-driven sports marketing agency, reverting to the role of Director. Ian will remain an active, engaged and influential member of the Board of Directors but Ian has decided to reduce his day-to-day involvement in order to focus on his ongoing health challenges.
The UK-based sports marketing agency recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, reflecting upon a decade of success and continued growth which Ian has been at the very forefront alongside Founder and CEO, Mark Blundell. Joining MBP in late 2013 as a shareholder and taking on the Managing Director role alongside long-term business associate and MBP Chairman, Theo Paphitis, Ian has played a pivotal role in the journey that MBP has been on since its launch.
Ian brought to MBP a huge amount of invaluable experience as well as a tremendous network of contacts both in the commercial and sporting world, owing to previous successful leadership roles at some of the industry’s biggest names.
With a passion for connecting sport and business, Ian’s period as Managing Director of the agency has seen the company go from strength to strength diversifying into new areas, onboarding numerous blue-chip clients and consolidating the business’ affiliate B2B and B2C network.
In his role as MD, Ian has provided an excellent mentor and advisor to many of the business’ clients and team members, placing people and delivery at the heart of everything that the business stands for.
As we look ahead, Ian will continue to provide the business with a trusted sounding board of strategic advice and support in his role as the Board looks to accelerate the company’s rapid upward trajectory of recent years.
Ian Childs comments:
“It comes after a great deal of thought and reflection that I have decided to step back from my role as Managing Director. At the moment, I need to focus all my energies on my ongoing health challenges. That has to be my priority and that takes time. As a business, we have exciting news to follow soon and that has been something we have been planning and preparing for. MBP has never been in a stronger position and I know I echo the Board’s thoughts in feeling we are now perfectly placed to take advantage of this growing momentum. I look forward to continuing to support the business in my role as a Board Director moving forward and am as excited as ever at what the future holds for the business.”
Chairman of MBP, Theo Paphitis, adds:
"Having worked in partnership with Ian in various businesses for over 35 years, I am obviously saddened to see him step down as Managing Director of MBP in order to continue his fight back to health. Everybody in the MBP family is committed to supporting Ian in that fight. Saying that, I am pleased that Ian feels able to remain on the Board to continue to guide the business in line with its plans and strategy moving forward. The values and grace with which Ian conducts himself as a person are mirrored across our working practices and that impact will continue to be felt long into the future. The success of MBP could not have happened without Ian's huge contribution and for that we are all grateful and look forward to working with him for many years to come."
Mark Blundell, CEO of MBP, concludes:
“I’d like to place on record the greatest deal of gratitude to Ian for what he has provided to the business and to me personally. Ian has been a fantastic source of support, advice and guidance for me in my role as CEO. I know that this is not a decision that Ian has taken lightly as it is one that we have discussed for a while as the business has worked to put the right plans and strategy in place.
“As a business, MBP is in great shape with fantastic clients, engaged partners and a wonderful team working together behind the scenes. We look forward to having Ian’s continued support of the business as well as revealing our future plans in due course.”