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Marketing a premium product in a competitive environment
- Updated: September 22, 2016
The new season of the VELUX EHF Champions League has strated. David Szlezak, the newly appointed EHF Marketing GmbH managing director, talks about the current situation and the innovations in terms of marketing and TV rights.
Szlezak (42), former Austrian international and Bundesliga player had been appointed to the director position on interim base in February. He has been with EHF Marketing GmbH since 2010 and previously held the positions of VELUX EHF FINAL4 manager and assistant managing director.
The new VELUX EHF Champions League season has started – what are the current tasks of the EHF Marketing director and his team?
David Szlezak: The group phase draw on 1 July at our new partner Select in Denmark had been the starting whistle for us. In the meantime we had organised a successful workshop for all participating clubs or an important meeting with our TV partners for example.
Of course, we had taken care on the production of the branding materials to fit the arenas all over Europe for the start of the season. It made things easier for all of us that 24 of the 28 clubs had been part of the competition in the previous season already. They know what to do, although we have some alternations.
What have you changed since you took over the director position?
David Szlezak: I did not accept this job to change everything. In contrast, we have a well-rehearsed and experienced team, which knows the Champions League and our sponsors.
You do not have to restructure and change, what works well. We are open for innovations, but in general the current status and the development of the VELUX EHF Champions League are on the right track. I took over a ship, which is travelling in the right direction.
The playing system remained the same, name sponsor VELUX has signed a contract until 2020 and most of the TV contracts are valid on a long-term base – it looks like a currently easy job for EHF Marketing?
David Szlezak: It is right that the big contracts are sealed. We are currently searching for a new premium partner, but this is not that kind of deal, which you negotiate on a single day. Thanks to those VELUX and the TV …
