The name ‘James Woollard’ may not be too familiar to many of you eSports fans, but it may be a name you become familiar with.
This is James Woollards first venture into eSports, but not into the world of business. James Woollard has been a key part of the business strategy for FIFA for nearly three years now, as the Senior Process and Planning Manager for Business Solutions. However, Woollard shared on Linkedin that he had departed the role for a more eSports orientated position.
James Woollard is now the Head of Commercial Solutions for BLAST, and taking on that role for a key eSports organization like BLAST will have a variety of different responsibilities.
BLAST has become one of the biggest names in eSports in previous years, providing a global network for fans to watch and enjoy their many eSports tournaments. They’re most well known for BLAST Premier: a CS:GO tournament that spans the entire globe, and has a lucrative grand prize of $4.25 million dollars.
On his LinkedIn post, Woollard expressed his excitement and anticipation to fill this major role.
“After an incredible two and a half years at FIFA, football’s governing body, I am delighted to embark on a new, exciting journey in 2022. FIFA has been an enjoyable, interesting and certainly educational experience.
“I have had the opportunity to meet and work with hundreds of exceptionally talented professionals in the events industry, to work on numerous projects and tournaments, and to deliver innovative products and solutions.
“My thanks to all of the incredible people I have worked with at FIFA and in the industry during my roles over the last few years.
“I look forward to the new role and to work with the BLAST and BLAST Premier teams to continue delivering electrifying events, across the world.”
This will be Woollards first venture into eSports, and it’s certainly a significant role to take on off the bat. As the Head of Commercial Solutions, Woollard will be looking to grow BLASTs overall reach in how they deliver worldwide events.
He will also play a major hand in establishing new partnerships, and finding new commercial events or possibilities for BLASTs many leagues and services.
How long has James Woollard been in FIFA?
Woollard has always been a high achiever in all of his roles. When he started working for FIFA in 2019, it only took him two years to get promoted to a senior role in Process and Project Management.
His role in FIFA included ‘identifying and acting on opportunities for innovation’, managing and delivering on various projects, and optimizing FIFA’s performance on a business level. Going from FIFA to BLAST is certainly a different direction to take, but Woollards experience extends past FIFA.
Before he began work for FIFA, he worked at Wilson James as Head of Strategic Projects and Proposals, and also at the Wembley Stadium Centre of Excellence as the Project and Bid Manager.
At Strafe.com, we are all for a business minded individual like James Woollard stepping into the eSports world. With the eSports industry rapidly expanding and growing, it needs people with a proven track record like Woollard who can really help market some of the bigger tournaments and events BLAST run regularly.
BLAST have the right idea putting so much emphasis on project management, and we’re sure many other major eSports companies will follow suit.
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