Carles Cantó Naves

Carlos Cantó is a respected global professional in the sport + entertainment industry, with more than 30+ years of experience, having lead consultancy projects in over 25 countries. Currently, he is the CEO of his own boutique consulting firm focused on the sport+entertainment sector, consulting to clubs, federations, leagues, events, destinations and sponsors, after his 10+ years stint at IMG -the global leader in the sector, as VicePresident of the Consulting Division-. In addition, he seats in a couple of Boards (RCDeportivo de A Coruña and Spanish Marketing Association) as well as in selected Advisory Boards. From an academic perspective, Carlos is a dynamic professor of “Sponsorship/Partnership” and “Sports Business” at IE-Instituto de Empresa and at ESADE Business School. In addition, he also lectures at universities and entities specialized in sports (FIFA, LaLiga, etc.). Carlos has run -and finished-, so far, seven marathons.

CORPORATE EXPERIENCE

• CEO, SPSG Consulting, 2016 – Present

• Member of the Board of the Spanish Marketing Association, 2016 – Present

• Member of the Board of the RCDeportivo A Coruña, 2021 – Present

• Member of the Advisory Board of selected sports +entertainment start-ups (BStadium, B+, OWQLO, etc.), Present

• Vice-President of the Consulting Division, Lagardère Sports (now SportFive) , 2013 – 2016

• Vice-President of the Consulting Division, IMG (now Endeavor), 2003 – 2013

• Head of Studies and Communication Department, Tea-Cegos, 2000 – 2003

• Consultant and Partner, Consultur (Consultores Turísticos), 1990 – 2000

• Analyst (Summer Internship), PepsiCo, 1989

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

• “Sponsorship & Partnership” Professor, IE (España), 2020 – Present

• “Sports Business” Professor,  ESADE Business School (España), 2010 – Present

• “Sports Business” Lecturer, Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid / Universidad Europe (España), 2018 – Present

• “Sports Business” Lecturer, LaLiga Business School (España), 2020 – Present

• “Sports Business” Lecturer, Universidad de Monterrey (México), 2018 – 2019

• “Sports Business” Lecturer, FIFA (international), 2022 – Present

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

• BBA & MBA , ESADE Business School, España, 1990

• Member of the Board of Directors Program (+KPMG), IESE, España, 2022

• Participant of the CEMS Master HEC, France, 1990

• Leisure and Tourism management Courses, Cornell University, USA, 1996