Two leading executives at PA Sport have left the company in a dispute over the agency’s future direction, it is being reported.
Managing director Chris Buckley and Andy Elliott, the director of content, have left the company following Tuesday’s announcement by PA Group that the news agency has chosen not to sell the sports division, guardian.co.uk is reporting without naming its sources.
According to the website report, a spokeswoman confirmed that PA Sport executive Ian Campbell has been appointed managing director of the division with immediate effect.
“It is business as usual and there has been a very positive response from staff following the announcement of the group’s decision to retain PA Sport,” PA said.
PA Sport, supplies content, data and editorial services to global media and non-media customers including newspapers, websites and broadcasters. PA Sport, based in Yorkshire, has deals with many sport federations and governing bodies, including the Premier League. It is based in the UK, with other offices in New York, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Auckland, Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mumbai.
PA Group announced in March that it had begun a strategic review of the PA Sport business, including the possibility of a sale or outside investment. However, the PA Group board said at the time that it would to retain the PA sports wire element of the business.
The company said on Tuesday: “As a result there was a strong level of interest from both trade and private equity. However, having considered the various proposals, the board has concluded that they do not meet the criteria set out at the beginning of the process and therefore it is in the best interests of shareholders and customers to retain ownership of the business.
“PA Group will support PA Sport in the next stage of its development, ensuring the continued supply of quality sports news and data to its customers. PA Sport is a highly successful business in a growing market place and PA Group is committed to its future.”
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