The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Head of Sponsorships (L5) within a large organisation
3-5 years at L5Skills to master
- Full P&L ownership for a significant business unit, managing a team of managers, consistently exceeding multi-million-pound revenue targets, and driving strategic initiatives for a portfolio of events. You'd have already proven you can operate at a very senior level.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivered 120%+ of your P&L targets for 3+ years.
- Successfully mentored and promoted at least 2-3 direct reports into leadership roles.
- Led the development and launch of a significant new revenue stream or sponsorship product.
- Regularly presented commercial performance and strategy to the C-suite.
- 2
Commercial Director / VP of Partnerships at a smaller, high-growth company
4-6 years in a similar roleSkills to master
- Building a commercial function from scratch, driving rapid revenue growth, securing foundational strategic partnerships, and navigating the complexities of a fast-paced, evolving business. The scale might be smaller, but the breadth of responsibility is similar.
You're ready to move on when
- Grew commercial revenue by 50%+ YoY for 3+ consecutive years.
- Built and scaled a commercial team from 5 to 20+ people.
- Successfully closed and managed 5+ multi-million-pound strategic partnerships.
- Demonstrated strong entrepreneurial drive and adaptability in a dynamic environment.
- 3
Senior Director / VP, Global Sales or Business Development (from a related industry)
5-7 years in a similar roleSkills to master
- Leading large global sales teams, developing complex commercial strategies, managing multi-million-pound P&Ls, and a strong understanding of B2B relationship selling at an executive level. You'd need to quickly learn the nuances of experiential marketing and sponsorship.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed a global sales team with a budget of £10M+.
- Proven ability to translate complex product offerings into compelling commercial solutions.
- Strong network of C-suite contacts in relevant industries.
- Demonstrated quick learning and adaptability to new industry specifics.