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Joe Lake O’Brien
Marketing Manager – Sports Partnerships & Brand at Gallagher
UCFB Graduate
Joe Lake O’Brien
Marketing Manager – Sports Partnerships & Brand at Gallagher
A UCFB graduate spoke to us about his work in a variety of sports during his spell in the marketing department at England Rugby.
Joe Lake O’Brien, who studied a postgraduate degree at UCFB Wembley in MSc International Sport Management, and now head up sports marketing for Gallagher, landed a role as Commercial Partnerships Account Executive at England Rugby upon graduating.
During his year-long postgraduate degree course, Joe worked alongside his studies in an array of sports, from working as a football coach to then gaining an internship at Wimbledon.
Speaking about his role at England Rugby, he said: “I work across five different partners, delivering their rights on a matchday but also in the lead-up to those matchdays.
“That could be shoots with players or coaches, content plans, or the matchday pieces, whether that’s hospitality, mascot or simply being pitchside.”
Joe then spoke about having the iconic Twickenham as his office.
“Coming here, it’s an 80,000-seater stadium. It’s bizarre saying that this is my office, but I guess going to Wembley for a year, you kind of get used to it.”
“I sit pitchside behind the advertising boards for the games and the national anthems. It never becomes normal, but it’s just the best.”
Joe Lake O'Brien
UCFB Graduate
Marketing Manager - Sports Partnerships & Brand at Gallagher
When asked about his time at UCFB, Joe spoke about his workplace opportunities, saying: “I got offered a fixed-term contract with Wimbledon. I worked in the partnerships and hospitality team, which was an unbelievable experience but the most chaotic few weeks I’ll probably ever have.”
He added: “I found the guest speakers massively helpful. And going to New York and Miami, there were some guest speakers on those trips who were absolutely unbelievable.
“So much of my role is keeping partners happy, so the people skills you get from UCFB, spending the time with people from all different backgrounds and different sports stands you in really good stead.”
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