U.S. Sports Marketing Executive Tom Fox Joins Forces with International Sports Industry Executive Kenneth Berger and Investment Industry Leader Javier Villamizar to Form Powerhouse Trifecta of Advisors.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates –Talisman, an award-winning sales and marketing agency based in Dubai and specializing in marrying Tier-1 brands to world-class rights holders across Sports, Gaming and Web3, has announced the appointment of three industry titans as official agency advisors to help bolster and grow business in the U.S.:  sports marketing veteran Tom Fox, international sports industry executive Kenneth Berger, and investment industry leader Javier Villamizar.

The three new advisors will lend additional expertise in critical strategic areas that build on the agency leadership team’s extensive Tier-1 sports background which includes executive positions at McLaren Racing, Manchester City, and the Los Angeles Lakers among others.

Talisman has fast developed a reputation as a top sports marketing agency in Asia, with expansion underway in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.  The agency has its sights set on quickly growing a presence and foothold among U.S. brands looking to expand internationally, and U.S. rights-holders who need support in Asia.

As part of its U.S. growth plan, the agency will be looking to open an office in New York City in the near term and is aggressively recruiting & growing its commercial team.  The team plans to have a significant focus on Formula 1 given its growing interest in the market.  

“As our business continues to experience hyper-growth globally, the addition of these three senior advisors marks a pivotal moment in our journey,” said Dharpan Randhawa, Founder and President of Talisman. “Their knowledge and expertise spanning brand marketing know-how, rights-holder insights, and business development along with deep industry connections will help further drive our success and lead us to even greater heights, as we aggressively expand into the U.S. market and look to shape the future of sports marketing” he added.

Tom Fox

As former sports marketing chief for industry-leading iconic and beloved sports brands including Gatorade and Nike and with operational expertise in the Premier League and MLS with Arsenal, Aston Villa and the Earthquakes, Fox brings the expertise and perspective of a seasoned, strategic and savvy global marketer and operator.  

He will help the agency team get inside the minds of their brand clients to help drive a deep understanding of the opportunities in sport that will help them maximize the benefits of strategic partnerships. Having built and run strong leadership teams with brands, leagues and teams, Fox will also provide mentorship to the Talisman Senior Leadership Team and help them continuously raise their game in thinking and acting like global marketers.

“I’m really excited to work alongside Ken and Javier to help Dharpan and his talented team build their agency and grow its U.S. presence,” Fox said.  “Whether it’s emerging Web3 brands or Fortune 100 companies looking to use sport to create awareness and tell their stories or navigating the changing media landscape for Gen Z consumers, I believe there’s still plenty of room to separate Talisman from the pack,” he added.

Kenneth Berger

Berger has a proven track record of business success throughout Asia including more than two decades of experience with Tier-1 rights-holders, spanning both buy-side and sell-side roles, at companies including IMG and ISL Marketing and sports properties including FIFA and UFC. This unique skill set will enable him to provide Talisman with unparalleled insights into the rights-holder mindset that will prove instrumental in facilitating successful partnership negotiations and fostering enduring relationships.

“Having known Dharpan and the team for some time, I am energised by the work they are doing to disrupt the traditional model of sports marketing. They provide a newfound set of values and ethics in everything they do and have assembled a world class team with experience working for some of the world’s leading rights holders across multiple geographies, including the US, Europe and Asia,” said Berger. “I look forward to being part of their growth story – as they expand significantly beyond Asia where they have cemented their position as one of the best agencies in the market.”

Javier Villamizar

Villamizar, an established figure in the private equity field currently leading Softbank’s Vision Fund as Operating Partner, will provide assistance to Talisman's commercial team in their interactions with international businesses that have recently been deployed with capital and are potentially interested in exploring partnerships within the sports industry. Additionally, he will impart his expertise on prevailing and upcoming trends in the industry to the team.

“I look forward to supporting Talisman’s growth journey by helping bring newly-funded international companies together with the team that can provide world-class expertise in sports partnerships, to create true win-win relationships that will propel growth for all parties,” said Villamizar.  “With the talented team Talisman has in place, the agency has limitless potential as far as the number and types of clients it can support in any corner of the world…watch this space, Talisman is just getting started,” he added.  

About Talisman™

Talisman is an award-winning global agency redefining sports, entertainment, gaming & Web3 partnerships across key industries and regions. With offices in Singapore, Shanghai and Dubai, Talisman thrives on unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the great brands and creative minds they have the pleasure of working with. With global resources and connectivity in key markets, Talisman has won prominent industry awards for executing groundbreaking partnerships & activations across sports & gaming.

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