Richard Thompson named chair of Levy UK + Ireland

Richard Thompson has been appointed chair of Levy UK + Ireland, the sports and entertainment arm of Compass Group.

Thompson takes on the newly created role after a long tenure as chair of Surrey County Cricket Club and England and Wales Cricket Board.

Outside of sport, he was also the global chair of M&C Saatchi Sports & Entertainment, where he managed acts such as Jamiroquai, Geri Halliwell, Natalie Imbruglia and Vanessa Mae, as well as being chair of the broader M&C Saatchi UK Group.

He is involved in several charitable initiatives, including as ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and chair and founder of Sport United Against Dementia (SUAD).

Thompson left school aged 16 and set up and sold two businesses before switching into a career in marketing services and talent management.

He is now looking to lead the premiumisation of Levy UK + Ireland’s offering in his role as chair.

Thompson said: “I’m incredibly excited to turn this new position into something that can have real purpose. My primary focus will be finding ways to improve Levy’s reach and profile within the sporting and entertainment ecosystem to enable it to explore new opportunities, as well as expanding and reinforcing existing ones. Having worked in sports and entertainment events for over 30 years, I hope to use my experience and contact base to open doors, develop relationships, spot trends, and help elevate our already brilliant offering.”

Jon Davies, chief executive of Levy UK + Ireland, added: “Getting Richard onboard isn’t just a natural progression; it’s a critical acceleration of our growth plan. Richard’s deep expertise in venue experiences and his proven track record in closing multiple major deals in the broader entertainment world will be invaluable for Levy. His history of successfully founding three start-up businesses provides us with a powerful foundation to unlock high-value partner investment opportunities.

“This appointment is perfectly timed to help us execute our strategy, particularly as we eye significant expansion. We are thrilled to have his vision guiding our board.”