Navy Blue Sports, Ireland's leading full-service sports agency, has announced Neal Cummins as the head of its new communications division.
This new division will further enhance the agency's service offerings, delivering expert communications strategies and providing comprehensive, top-tier services to its sports brand clients.
Cummins joins Navy Blue Sports from Sky Ireland where he spearheaded its communications and sponsorship efforts for the last three years.
He was responsible for Sky’s historic partnership with the Republic of Ireland Women’s National football team – making Sky their first ever standalone primary partner - as well as the addition of the Men’s National football team to Sky’s sponsorship portfolio.
He also led campaigns to launch the company’s first ever streaming products, Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
Prior to Sky Ireland, Cummins was a Director at the global communications agency, Fleishman Hillard, where he led the agency’s sports and sponsorship division for over five years, working with a range of clients including, Aviva, Cadbury, Communicorp, EA Games, Google and P&G.
Speaking about his appointment, Cummins said: "The opportunity to build and lead a new communications division within such a respected agency is unique and very exciting.
“Navy Blue Sports has long been synonymous with excellence in sports management, representing elite athletes and working with top sports organisations.
“Having worked with Niall and the Navy Blue Sports team over many years, I have witnessed their professionalism first-hand.
“The launch of the Navy Blue Sports communications division is a significant milestone in the agency's evolution and I am excited to be joining such an experienced team.”
Commenting on the announcement, Managing Director of Navy Blue Sports, Niall Woods, said: "The expansion of our service portfolio into media and communications is the natural strategic next step for Navy Blue Sports and makes us the only communications agency in the country with a talent management arm within the business.
“The appointment of industry heavyweight Neal Cummins is a significant statement of intent and demonstrates our ambition to become a major player in the market.
“We see a sizeable opening in the sports communications industry to give brands a credible and exciting option going forward. Having already worked on communications campaigns for top brands Allianz and Lucozade Sport over the last year, the addition of Neal to our team will further strengthen our offering to the talent we represent and the brands we work with”.
Woods founded the company in 2011 after retiring from rugby. Navy Blue specialises in representing and managing the careers of Ireland’s premier sports talent including current Ireland rugby captain Caelan Doris, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose, Andrew Porter, Lisa Fallon, Richie Sadlier, Vikki Wall and many more.
Talent representation as well as offering sponsorship and communications services is what Navy Blue Sports claim sets them apart from any other sports agency in the market.
Photo: L-R Neal Cummins & Niall Woods
