Philipp Wessel has joined Triumph Media Group, the Hamburg-based sports marketing agency, after leaving his position as senior director of new media at rival agency Sportfive. Wessel has joined Triumph in the role of director, digital media, bringing with him more than 12 years of experience in streaming media, digital marketing and strategic new media, consulting both with Sportfive and the former UFA Sports, one of three agencies that merged to form Sportfive.
Wessel has been Sportfive’s senior director of new media for the last six years, having previously worked as head of marketing and sales for new media at Sportfive from 2002 to 2005.
Heading up Sportfive’s new media department, Wessel developed and implemented various digital media strategies for clubs and federations, including the management of streaming portals for events such as qualifying matches for soccer’s 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments, qualifiers for soccer’s 2008 and 2012 European Championships, soccer’s Africa Cup of Nations and the Men’s Handball World Championships.
Wessel is also experienced in German soccer, having worked with many clubs from the top-tier Bundesliga to develop and implement their digital strategies.
Triumph’s new media team is led by Ze’ev Rozov, the vice president of digital media, and also includes Moritz Burmeister, manager of digital media, who joined Triumph after completing his degree studies.
Earlier this year, Triumph appointed Florian Riepe from Sportfive as vice president of brand strategy having last year hired Dr Michael Choi as director of strategy and senior legal counsel, after he left his role at Sportfive. Other former Sportfive employees now working at Triumph include chief financial officer Christian Weddigen and director of media rights Frederik Lütt.
Properties held by Triumph include a deal to sell the international television and sponsorship rights for events organised by the European Table Tennis Union, selected international broadcast distribution rights for the fights of Ukrainian heavyweight boxing world champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko (albeit not the recent Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye fight, as Sportfive sold the international rights in various territories), and the sale of sponsorship rights for tennis’ World Team Cup.
Last year, Triumph provided a pay-per-view streaming service for Wladimir Klitschko’s IBF and WBO heavyweight title defence against Eddie Chambers. Triumph also provided an internet streaming solution for field hockey’s 2010 Hero Honda FIH World Cup.
By Martin Ross for sportcal.com
