Volleyball World announced today the appointment of Ugo Valensi as its new Chief Executive Officer, with his tenure set to begin on August 4, 2025. Valensi brings extensive global experience in sports leadership, media innovation, and commercial strategy to the role.
His arrival coincides with a significant period for Volleyball World, building upon the momentum generated by the sport`s visibility at last year`s Paris Summer Olympics. Volleyball now engages approximately 800 million people worldwide, and last year, Volleyball World content achieved a combined 1.8 billion views across television and digital platforms, highlighting the sport`s increasing global appeal.
VBTV, Volleyball World`s successful over-the-top (OTT) platform, has experienced remarkable growth, with a 55% year-on-year increase in paid subscribers. During the initial three weeks of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League, watch time surged by 166% compared to the same period in 2024.
Volleyball World`s highly-regarded social media platforms continue their expansion. Over 20 million individuals follow Volleyball World`s social channels, representing a 14% year-on-year growth. With the planned relaunch of channels in China, 2025 is anticipated to be the year of highest growth for social media reach.
Valensi joins from Grand Slam Tennis, where, as Chief Executive Officer, he oversaw the collaboration among the four major tournaments: the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
During his time there, he was instrumental in enhancing Grand Slam Tennis`s global presence, improving fan engagement through storytelling, and creating new value for rights holders and partners. This included leading negotiations with Netflix for the innovative Break Point documentary series – a pioneering commercial project spanning the Grand Slams, ATP, and WTA Tours. He also led the establishment of a unified governance framework, spearheaded cross-tournament commercial initiatives, and laid the groundwork for a cohesive digital and media strategy.
Prior to this, Valensi led the Sportfive agency, guiding it through a successful turnaround and subsequent sale to private equity. His proven ability to manage global sports entities and drive strategic transformation will be crucial for Volleyball World`s next phase of development.
Valensi will commence his role shortly after the Women`s and Men`s Volleyball Nations League Finals and just before the Women`s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand (August 22 – September 7) and the Men`s Volleyball World Championship in the Philippines (September 12-28) – marking the first time both championships are held in Asia. The Beach Volleyball World Championships are scheduled for November in Adelaide, Australia.
As Volleyball World aims to elevate the sport`s global appeal leading up to and beyond the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Valensi’s leadership is expected to significantly contribute to expanding its reach and deepening fan connections.
Quote from Ugo Valensi, incoming Chief Executive Officer of Volleyball World:
“I am honoured to join Volleyball World at such an exciting moment in its journey. Since its launch in 2021, the organisation has redefined what’s possible for professional volleyball — blending sporting excellence with global entertainment appeal. With 800 million people engaging with volleyball worldwide, there is immense untapped potential. I look forward to working with Michael Payne, the team at Volleyball World, the FIVB, CVC Capital Partners and all our partners to expand our reach, deepen fan connections, and unlock the next wave of growth for this extraordinary sport.”
Quote from Michael Payne, Chair of Volleyball World:
“We are very lucky to have secured Ugo as our new CEO. He brings a wealth of expertise in the sports business, from both the rights holder and agency side. Through his time at Grand Slam Tennis and as CEO of Sportfive, he has shown his undoubted commercial acumen. Having listened to him outline his vision for Volleyball World, I look forward to working with him at this exciting time for the organization and the sport of volleyball.”
Quote from Fabio Azevedo, President of FIVB:
“We are very excited to welcome Ugo Valensi to Volleyball World and the Global Volleyball Movement. His impressive leadership experience in the international sports industry make him the perfect person to lead Volleyball World in this next chapter. We are confident that Ugo, together with the strong team of professionals at Volleyball World and the FIVB, will help us take volleyball to new heights.”
About Volleyball World
Volleyball World is a commercial partnership between the FIVB and private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. It holds the commercial rights and manages media, events, and fan engagement for all major international competitions, including the World Championships, Volleyball Nations League, and Beach World Tour. Volleyball World was established to drive innovation, digital transformation, and growth across the sport globally. Its mission is to modernize the game and serve as a “one stop shop” for fans and partners. Since its inception in 2021, Volleyball World has achieved approximately 80% like-for-like revenue growth.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood