‘EXTRA TIME' - Exploring Talent with Chris D’Amelio

Chris D’Amelio

Exploring Talent Trends in the Middle East Sports Industry

Featured Speaker: Chris D’Amelio – Head of Sport, Entertainment & Media, Odgers Berndtson Middle East

The Middle East Sports Business Network (MESBN) kicked off its 2025 webinar series with an exclusive session featuring Chris D’Amelio, Head of Sport, Entertainment & Media at Odgers Berndtson Middle East. With significant investment, rising global visibility, and increasing professionalisation in the region, the conversation focused on one of the sector’s hottest topics—talent.

We sat down with Chris for an ‘Extra Time’ Q&A to dig deeper into the challenges, trends, and opportunities shaping the sports workforce in the MENA region.

What would your advice be for someone like myself with about 3 years’ experience in the sports industry looking to work in the MENA region quite early on in my career?

Chris: Building your network early in your career is critical to ensure you are well positioned to unlock a wide range of opportunities in the region. This might be through attending conferences/events (online if living abroad), warm introductions to connections of close contacts or approaches to key target organisations where appropriate.

Do the major events organisers in the region recruit talent directly or through agencies, or both?

Chris: Event organisers will use a variety of sources to secure talent including executive search firms, contingent recruitment agencies, Linked In, personal networks and internal talent acquisition teams. Therefore when looking for a new role it’s important to diversify your approach.

We are seeing many Organising Committees having trouble providing work visas for expat staff. Is this going to be the norm in the future? Also, are you seeing that they’re no longer providing relocation services for potential staff?

Chris: Visa complexities are common, but I’d expect these to improve as the region matures over time and employee onboarding finds efficiencies. In terms of relocation support being included as part of compensation packages, these are becoming less common as organisations increasingly opt for utilizing talent who are already based in the region.

What trends are you seeing around part-time and remote roles? Parent-friendly for doing school runs, etc.?

Chris: Part time roles are less common within the region because employers are required to pay for visas, medical and other costs which makes part time or interim employment less commercially viable. Remote working is not preferred as employers value ‘boots on the ground’ and want to ensure employees are fully integrated within the business which further assists with retention. Hybrid models exist but these vary from firm to firm.

As Talent Acquisition myself, I wonder if you foresee any issues with employee retention given the massive growth in region and more and more competition?

Chris: The job market within the region is becoming increasingly competitive as the Middle East becomes an increasingly attractive place to live and is no longer seen as a hardship post. It's well documented that this is leading to a slowdown in compensation package growth, which along with the rising cost of living and the uncertainty in the global economy can affect employee retention. To address this, many employers are focusing on employee engagement strategies to retain top talent by creating a supportive work environment and offering opportunities for professional growth.

What trends do you see for females in sports? (e.g., approach for local talent vs. global talent, investments, events, etc.) and how do they compare to what's happening in other sports given female participation in specific sports is not as mature?

Chris: The Middle East has seen a 350% increase in female participation in sports over the last decade as a result of increased investment and support for women's sports. Undoubtedly this will lead to more opportunities across all sectors of the industry as the region continues to mature.

What is the ratio of freelance roles versus permanent? Are you seeing more opportunities for long-term, full-time contract roles in the region?

Chris: Although difficult to calculate a specific ratio, across the Middle East there is a growing trend towards freelance work, especially in sectors like event management, technology, media, and associated creative industries. However, permanent roles remain common in established sports organizations and clubs that require consistent, specialized expertise.

What do you think on AI filtering applications? I have posted a few vacancies and there have been thousands that have applied which has forced my company to use AI to filter (we had to outsource this). I am not for this process because I respect applicants taking the time to apply – how do you avoid losing top talent?

Chris: As an executive search firm, our methodology is quite targeted, so we currently do not employ the use of AI filtering applications. However, AI technology is advancing rapidly and can enhance both efficiency and the applicant experience throughout the recruitment journey, especially when handling a high volume of applicants. Undoubtedly, this technology will continue to evolve, ensuring the process remains fair and effective in identifying top talent, while supporting the hands-on expertise of HR and people teams.

With regards to medical support for the sports sector (Physio, Injury Rehab) – where are you finding the sector is looking, as in from MENA or Europe, and is it organisations or individuals they are seeking?

Chris: In the sports sector, medical support trends show that the Middle East is increasingly looking to professional clubs in Europe for expertise across physiotherapy, injury rehabilitation and other related roles. Additionally, there is a growing interest in tapping into the advanced medical practices available in the US. As the region evolves, the value of regional experience becomes more significant, and organizations are keen to leverage local expertise.

In Summary:

From visa complexities to female leadership, AI recruitment to freelance trends, the talent landscape across Middle East sport is evolving rapidly. With major events, booming investment, and growing competition, it’s clear that smart hiring, cultural alignment, and long-term retention strategies will be the defining factors of success.

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