MP & Silva Announces Four Senior Appointments Within Management Team

MP & Silva announced four new senior appointments within its senior management team. Frank Uddo joins as President, North America, and Jesse Ryback further strengthens the Sponsorship Team, as Vice President, Sponsorship, America. Both are based in New York. Additionally, Andrea F. Silva (no relation to Founding Partner Ricardo Silva) has been promoted to Vice President, Acquisitions and Catherine Davies has been appointed Head of Research and Intelligence.

MP & Silva is currently the fastest growing global sport media rights agency, and Uddo and Ryback’s appointments confirm the agency’s growth strategy and long-term commitment in North America. As a trusted partner, the NFL appointed MP & Silva as its media rights agent for 42 territories in Europe until 2020. More recently, Monumental Sports & Entertainment commissioned the agency as their exclusive worldwide marketing rights agent.

Frank Uddo – drawing on his 18 years’ experience in the sports media industry working in media distribution, programming, rights acquisitions and marketing – has been appointed as President, North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean). Uddo will lead the MP & Silva American team, spearhead all business and commercial activities, and boost MP & Silva’s footprint in the marketplace thanks to his vast experience working for global sports and entertainment companies. Uddo will report to CEO, Marco Auletta and CCO, Roberto Dalmiglio. Frank recently operated as Senior Vice President for WWE, leading the planning and implementation of WWE’s international content distribution business with top media companies around the world, including the international rollout of the WWE Network. Frank joined WWE after overseeing Major League Baseball’s international broadcasting and marketing, including the 2009 and 2013 editions of the World Baseball Classic. Prior to MLB, Uddo led programming and rights acquisitions for Fox Sports International.

Jesse Ryback has been appointed as Vice President, Sponsorship, America, and brings an extensive business development background to MP & Silva. Ryback is responsible for revenue generation across the agency’s global portfolio with a strategic focus on World Baseball Classic, the Americas Champions League, as well as support to the Monumental Sports & Entertainment partnership, and the acquisition of new business throughout the region. Prior to joining MP & Silva, Ryback served as Global Business Development Agent at CAA and Business Development Director at Premier Partnerships. Over that span, Ryback brokered two major naming rights agreements with O.co Coliseum, home of MLB’s Oakland Athletics and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, and Kabam Field at the University of California, Berkeley. Ryback also played a key role in the sales efforts for over ten additional marquee naming rights engagements, including more, including Moda Center, Dolby Theatre, Globe Life Field, TCL Chinese Theatre, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and most recently, San Francisco’s Chase Center.

Andrea F. Silva has been appointed Vice President, Acquisitions. Through his coordination, the Acquisitions Team will continue to strengthen MP & Silva’s media rights portfolio, ensuring proper commercial assessment and fast implementation processes in line with the company overall strategy. Andrea F. Silva originally joined the agency in 2014. He has over 20 years’ experience in the sports media industry, and has held several senior management positions, including those of founder and Managing Director of Wireless Digital Contents, where he was the exclusive advisor for new media for A.C.Milan and Juventus F.C.  He also served Canal+ as Head of PPV in Italy for 5 years.  Since joining MP & Silva, Silva has lead the agency’s expansion plans and strategic acquisitions in Africa, in coordination with the European headquarters in London.

MP & Silva has also recently appointed Catherine Davies as new Head of Research and Intelligence and she will be in charge of growing and developing the team, which supports the definition and strategy of the future acquisitions of the Group. Catherine has extensive knowledge of the global sports media market gained through 20 years working in the industry as a media analyst, production executive, television commentator, research manager and trade publication editor. Catherine has been a senior consultant to Sportcal since 2009 and before that spent 11 years writing for TV Sports Markets.

Marco Auletta, CEO of MP & Silva, said: “We are delighted to welcome Frank, Jesse, and Catherine to MP & Silva, and congratulate Andrea on his promotion. These appointments are a further indication of how the company is increasing its local knowledge and expertise by acquiring high-level talents.”