Richard Scudamore CBE is one of the most influential figures within English football. He is viewed as the driving force behind the transformation of the Premier League into the world’s most-watched annual competition.
Richard began his career at Yellow Pages then moved to information conglomerate, Thomson, heading up the UK's Group Sales and Marketing division. Richard served as Managing Director of The Scotsman and later relocated to the US, continuing his work for Thomson. Whilst in the role of Senior Vice President, he oversaw all newspaper operations in Southern and Eastern USA.
The next step in Richard’s career saw him appointed Chief Executive of the Football League, where he was responsible for all aspects of the business, including broadcast and commercial rights sales for the Football League pyramid and the Football League Cup. His success led to an approach by English football’s top division, the Premier League. Richard was taken on as Chief Executive and went on to enjoy an important twenty year association. Scudamore’s stewardship guided the Premier League to a new level, accruing broadcasting and sponsorship contracts worth in excess of £3.3 billion per season.
Responsible for all aspects of Premier League operations, he spearheaded multiple initiatives to improve club sustainability. Scudamore also played a pivotal part in the founding of the Football Foundation, an organisation that has contributed over £1.7 billion into community football through 18,000 projects. Richard also worked with clubs to create solidarity and charitable programmes, resulting in financial contributions of over £450 million per annum to organisations outside of the Premier League.
Since retiring, Scudamore's wealth of knowledge and experience has been in high demand and he has taken up advisory roles for Major League Baseball, the A-League and the Ryder Cup.
He was awarded a CBE for services to football in HM The Queen’s New Year Honours List 2019.
The Premier League is the top division within English league football. The competition was established in 1992 and consists of 20 clubs. The Premier League is the most watched sports league in the world and fixtures are contested between August and May. Richard was appointed as Chief Executive in 1999 and then served as Executive Chairman from 2014 until his retirement at the end of 2018.
Established in 1888, the English Football League is the world's oldest football competition. Comprising of clubs from England and Wales, the pyramid features the three divisions directly below the Premier League. Its governing body goes by the same name and also operates two knock-out competions, the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
Founded in 1989, the Thomson Corporation was one of the world's largest information companies. The organisation operated in a variety of sectors, including finance, travel, newspapers, law, technology, science and healthcare.
Established in 1966 and a division of British Telecom, Yellow Pages is a telephone directory of businesses. The UK's Yellow Pages are now fully digitised, with the last printed copies produced in January 2019.
Established in 1927, the Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The event is named after English businessman Samuel Ryder who donated the trophy. The tournament takes place in both North America and Europe on an alternating basis.
Major League Baseball
Adviser on International Strategy
Sep 2019 - Present
New York, NY, USA
Established in 1903, Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organisation and the oldest major sports league within the United States and Canada. Comprising of 30 teams, MLB set the record for the highest total season attendance of any sport in 2018 with more than 69.6 million spectators. MLB is the second wealthiest professional sports league by revenue.
The A-League is the top division in Australian men's professional football. Established in 2004, the league consists of 11 teams, 10 from Australia and 1 based in New Zealand. Seasons run from October to May.
The Sports Business Council acts as a forum for the sport and physical activity sector, working alongside the goverment to ensure its growth. Members of the council originate from several leading public and private sector organisations working within the sporting industry.
World Leagues Forum
Chairman
Nov 2016 - Dec 2018
Zürich, CH
Formed in 2016, The World Leagues Forum is an organisation that represents professional association football leagues. Currently including 41 members from four of FIFA's five contintental confederations, the body focuses on matters including football governance, the rules of the game and the integrity of the game.
Established in 2001, Professional Game Match Officials is a body that aims to improve standards of refereeing. Operating across all Premier League, EFL and FA competitions, the organisation is funded by these associations. PGMOL trains and develops 110 referees and 175 assistants, whilst also playing a part in the implementation of refereeing standards.
Established in 2001, Football DataCo grants licences to third parties, allowing for the reproduction of certain data (statistics, fixtures etc) owned by the UK's three professional football leagues: the Premier League, the Football League and the Scottish Professional Football League. The company is wholly owned by the Premier League and Football League.
Founded in 2000, the Football Foundation is the United Kingdom's largest sports charity. The organisation uses funds generated by the Premier League, FA and government to support sports at grassroots level throughout the nation. £1.7 billion has been invested into community football through 18,000 projects.
In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Jimmy Worrall, Richard discusses his career and background as he reflects on his time at the helm of the Premier League, the most watched sports league in the world.
In an interview with CBI, Richard explains that Premier League clubs are rooted in their communities as he discusses the league's Enterprise Challenge.
Founded in 1939, The British Polio Fellowship supports people in the UK living with the late effects of polio and post-polio syndrome (PPS). The charity provides information, welfare and support, whilst also campaigning to raise awareness of PPS. Aiming to eradicate the disease worldwide, the fellowship has members across the nation with over 50 UK branches.
Sue Ryder supports people through the most difficult times in life, be that a terminal illness, loss of a loved one or a neurological condition. Founded in 1953 by World War II Special Operations Executive volunteer, Sue Ryder, the charity provides 2.2 million hours of care to thousands of people every year.
Named after founder Maggie Keswick Jencks, Maggie's centres run alongside NHS hospitals and provide support, information and practical advice to anyone affected by cancer. Whilst the first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996, the charity has a worldwide presence, with bases in Hong Kong, Toyko and Barcelona, as well as throughout the UK.
Organising four festivals annually in the spa town of Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festivals is a charitable organisation with the aim of involving the local community at its heart. Festivals range from Jazz and Science to Literature and it also oversees an educational programme.
The Grootbos Foundation, a non-profit organisation established in 2003 to save the critically endangered fynbos, works in the local community to improve awareness of environmental issues at the same time as developing life skills and opportunities for young people through sport and other activities.
