Head of Strategy Development - Sony Sports Businesses

Head of Strategy Development - Sony Sports Businesses

Reporting to: CEO

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Location: Basingstoke / London / Hybrid

Role Purpose

Reporting directly to the CEO, as part of the newly formed Strategy Office, this role will be key to achieving our long term vision in Sport. As the first dedicated strategy hire into the Strategy Office, you will work closely with ELT members, and senior stakeholders across the wider Sony businesses to develop and implement strategic initiatives, helping to steer the long term trajectory of the wider Sony Sports businesses.

The role will incorporate both strategy development and execution, as well as other strategic projects and corporate development activities (inc. both M&A and strategic partnership activities). You will also have the ability to help shape the role of the strategy function in the business, with potential to build out a dedicated team in the future.

M&A and Corporate Development:

• Carry out deep and thorough market analysis, providing strategic insight and analysis into areas for strategic growth (or potential growth); particularly including M&A and JVs

• Generate ‘warm leads’ for acquisition or partnership to achieve strategic growth

• Prepare insights and business cases, alongside supporting materials for potential investments or strategy decisions

• Own the process of ROI / sizing / analysing potential fit

• Stay close to all M&A and corporate development activities, owning the process, and galvanising the team and stakeholders to ensure it remains a priority and seen through to completion

• Understanding and advising on M&A / JV cross-over into existing businesses and their strategies

• Play a key role in the integration of new assets into the business

• Handle all investment or JV inbounds, qualifying and rationalising in a consistent format

• Facilitate diligences for Phase 1-4 targets;  drive calls, manage diligence support entities (e.g., Inner Circle, etc) and ultimately own delivery of diligence

• Support all acquisition pre/during/post activities, including the strategic business case to be vetted by leadership

Long Term Strategy Development, and Market & Competitor Intelligence, Business Evaluation:

• Supporting the definition of the long term strategy development for the Sony Sports Group

• Support the CCO in sizing, evaluating and prioritising different commercial opportunities 

• Continuously track and monitor commercial opportunities to ensure we remain focused on the most attractive areas???

• Produce materials for mid and long-term strategic planning (i.e., Mid-Range Plan, 5-year plan, etc)

• Build and maintain the latest view on the size, forecasts, profit pools and trends in all our main and adjacent markets

• Stay up to date on the competitive landscape – understanding our key competitors and their activities by market

Strategy Office Management

• Administering the strategy office (incl Japan / Europe)

• Liasing with external advisers on specialised data 

• Prepare strategy updates and diligence for ELT to review; tracking and monitoring our progress against our strategic goals

• Support CEO of Sony sports businesses in any/all ad hoc activities including senior executive meetings with partners / prospective partners

• Main liaison with SIF and SPE senior and peer resources

Key Skills and Requirements

To be successful in this role you will possess excellent core skills gained from 3+ years at a top tier strategy consultancy or in-house strategy team.  In addition you will:

• Be highly proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and additional software packages

• Have advanced financial modelling skills

• Hold outstanding research ability

• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple projects & deadlines simultaneously

• Highly analytical - ability to structure complex issues in a clear and logical way, and interpretation of market insights

• Solid business acumen and commercial understanding

• Confident at presenting to groups of various size / seniority

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to:

  • Build strong relationships with senior personnel

  • Gain trust of both senior team and wider stakeholders

• Desire to work in a fast paced environment 

• Gravitas and ability to connect with senior stakeholders and external executives

• Knowledge of and interest in sport

• M&A experience or exposure

• Previous professional experience in differing industries with differing market size & scope

Equal Opportunity Employer

Hawk-Eye is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, disability, or union membership status.