Gareth Mordey, Managing Director at East Sport Management (ESM), has become the first person in the Middle East to have passed the Masters Degree in Sporting Directorship from Manchester Business School.
Leading the charge at UAE’s largest sports provider, Mordey completed the prestigious two-year course in Sport Directorship alongside experienced sporting personalities from across the world.
Mordey has been part of the UAE sports industry for over 12 years and currently his organisation provides courses across sports for over 27,000 young kids and works with more than 300 qualified coaches.
Talking about the benefit the UAE sports scene would have by having qualified sports directors, he said the role is very much an industry essential.
“I believe the new mind-set, with regard to this next generation of sporting leaders, will be seen throughout the Middle East. We’ve already seen, here in the UAE, how such sectors as aviation, banking, construction and education have risen to prominence due to the recruitment of credible, strong and effective leaders to compliment and help implement the extraordinary vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”
Mordey’s performance in the Masters programme was applauded, earning high marks from Tony Faulkner, Co-Founder of Master in Sporting Directorship.
“The commitment Gareth has shown traveling from Dubai for the MSD has been admirable. His knowledge of business and insight to leading business operations in various regions of the world has added much valued learning to the other senior leaders on the course. Gareth will always be a pioneering member of the MSD and is now officially one of a small number of academically and professionally accredited sporting directors across the globe.”
Congrats #MSD C1 on dissertation results. Ground breaking pioneers Thanks for starting the movement with VSI @GarethMordey @Gilo @TonyAsghar pic.twitter.com/mQH9VgBR42
— Team (@MasterSportDir) February 20, 2017
“It has always been VSI’s vision to align leadership and business skills to credible individuals who can impact strategic leadership in sport and Gareth has evidenced if this is his chosen direction he possesses the character and skills to deliver with impact “
“Owners who have built up vast business empires, especially those who come from overseas may require someone to translate what we might call the ‘top table language’ into language understood by people in sport, and it’s a point which football is finally beginning to accept.”
“While I have enjoyed a healthy 15-year sporting career and many valuable experiences, I’m now confident in embracing a very competitive role in a hugely competitive industry.”
