UK

Andy Westlake, CEO

Andy has been in the sponsorship business for over 20 years - 9 years working with media owners and recently as CEO of Fast Track, a company he’s been part of for the last 11 years. Prior to Fast Track, he spent four years at Mediaedge CIA, as Managing Director of their sponsorship division and worked in sponsorship in commercial radio, at both Capital Radio and EMAP. Andy lives in Amersham with his wife Sara and two children, William and Emilia and is a keen, if inconsistent golfer.

Jonathan Castleman, Managing Director - International

Jonathan has worked in the industry for over 16 years, nine of them at Lighthouse Communications where he was an integral part of growing the business. Jonathan has developed International sports marketing strategies for a number of global brands including Heineken, HSBC and Aviva. As Managing Director of the International side of the business he has been instrumental in setting up our offices in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and New Zealand. Jonathan is an Australian-born-Englishman and lives in London with his wife and three children.

Michelle Dite, Managing Partner

Michelle joined Fast Track in 1998 as the company’s first graduate. Through the years Michelle has progressed in many roles within the business and is currently a Managing Partner specialising in the creation and delivery of major sports events in the UK and internationally. Michelle’s knowledge of working with governing bodies, brands, broadcasters and government agencies provides our clients with unique insight and innovative event solutions. Michelle loves competitive sports challenges such as triathlons and recently cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

 

Jon Ridgeon, Partner

Jon Ridgeon was part of the team that initially launched Fast Track in 1998 and has held a number of evolving roles over the last 13 years covering all elements of the business. A former 110 metre hurdler, Jon was an Olympic finalist and World Championship Silver medallist and went on to develop a dual career in broadcasting and sports marketing. His current focus at Fast Track is building key client relationships as part of the company’s new business strategy. Jon is married with two young boys and in the little spare time he has is a keen triathlete, runner and mountaineer.

Penny Snowden, Director

A founding Director of Fast Track in 1998, Penny’s role has developed from directing the Event Management side of the business to overseeing all the contractual work. Her 10 years with the International Amateur Athletic Federation, has enabled her to match the role and operation of sports governing bodies and rights holders with the objectives of commercial companies who become their sponsors. Her aim has been to simplify the contractual process across all facets of the sports marketing business and to generate practical, workable agreements. Penny is married with two daughters and is passionate about the health and fitness of young people.

 

Mark Joy, Marketing Director

Mark Joy has brought 25 years of broad-based marketing communications experience to Fast Track, having previously run The Ingram Agency, a top ten UK marketing agency, BMT, an integrated marketing communications agency and sat on the Executive Management teams of VCCP and The Bell Pottinger Group. A modern communications expert with experience of developing innovative below the line and through the line programmes, Mark joined Fast Track in 2010 to develop our brand and marketing strategy and lend his expertise to client and new business planning.

Andrea Ptohopoullos, HR Director

Andrea joined Fast Track in 2002 having worked at Virgin Atlantic for 18 years in a number of roles, where she gained many of the skills required to develop innovative employee management programs. Andrea has been responsible for developing and managing the HR department during a period of rapid expansion which has seen the company grow from 25 people in one office to 170 people across 5 offices. Andrea lives in Islington and enjoys fine wine and food!

Jon Wyatt, Managing Director

After 6 years working as a management consultant, during which time he captained the Great Britain hockey team at the Sydney Olympic Games, Jon moved into sports marketing in 2002. Having developed marketing strategies and lead teams implementing successful international sponsorship programmes for major brands within the FMCG, security, utilities and sports apparel sectors, Jon is responsible for the coordination and use of best practice across all of the offices and accounts within the agency. Jon lives in London with his wife and son, Thomas.

Alan Ferguson, Managing Director - Scotland

Alan founded The Sports Business in 1995, which joined CSM in 2008 before being integrated with Fast Track in 2013. He has over 25 years experience in sponsorship and PR. In this time Alan has been involved in most of the major sports sponsorships in Scotland. He was Commercial Consultant to the Scotland Football Team for 3 World Cups, consultant to the Scotland World Cup rugby squad in í91 and í95, Broadcast Manager to the Rugby World Cup in Scotland/Ireland in 1991 and was Media and Commercial Consultant to Rangers FC before opening The Sports Business as a dedicated sport sponsorship agency.

 

Bob Caple, Production Director

Bob has over 35 years experience in the world of entertainment, sport and event production. Bob has worked with Fast Track since its inception in 1998 providing technical, production support and event presentation across a wide range of events including World, European and UK Athletics, the Commonwealth Games, and as a technical advisor to LOC’s. More recently, Bob has been instrumental in the conception and delivery of for the BT Paralympic World Cup and UK School Games and for the last 4 years has conceived and produced the UK School Games opening ceremony.

 

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