Vanessa Wilson appointed Director of Commercial and Communications

UK Sport has announced today that Vanessa Wilson has been appointed to the role of Director of Commercial and Communications.

Following Chief Operating Officer Tim Hollingsworth’s departure to become Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association and a realignment of the senior team at UK Sport, the new post has been created to drive UK Sport’s Commercial, Communications and Public Affairs activity.

Speaking on her appointment, Vanessa said: “As an organisation that is crucial to the success of British athletes at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, UK Sport has a unique opportunity to showcase and strengthen the high performance sporting system in the coming year.  

“I am hugely excited about my new role, which offers a fantastic chance to reinforce and grow understanding of the positive impact of UK Sport’s work to a wide range of stakeholders, and develop a robust Commercial strategy to support British sport beyond 2012.”

Vanessa's previous roles have included Head of Strategic Communications, Campaigns and Marketing at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); and Head of the Strategic Communications Planning Unit at the Department for Education and Skills.

UK Sport Chief Executive, Liz Nicholl, said: “I am delighted to welcome Vanessa to UK Sport at such an important time for both the delivery and future planning of UK Sport’s Commercial strategy and to capitalise on the unique opportunity of a home Games to acknowledge the positive impact of National Lottery, Exchequer and Team 2012 funding on British sport through our Communications and Public Affairs work.

“I am confident Vanessa’s 15 years’ experience in Communications and strong governmental links will help us to build on UK Sport’s reputation with key stakeholders as well as our relatively new Commercial programme.”