Sport for Business is all about the people within our community. The people that compete, the people that support, the people that make commercial partnerships work and the people that keep the whole sporting circus on the road.
In a new series, we want to introduce you to those people, initially twice weekly but as we hit our stride as part of a daily feature so that we can get around to as many of our wide range of interesting members as we can.
Today, the fourth in our series is Peter Sweeney, once of RTÉ and now a strong member of the team at Teneo.
Tell us who you are and what you do in the business of sport?
Peter Sweeney, Senior Consultant, Sport and Sponsorship, Teneo Ireland
Give us one or two things you have done in getting to where you are in 2020 that you feel were of importance?
After more than 15 years working as a newspaper sports reporter, in 2013 I returned to study full-time for a Masters in Applied Digital Media. This led to a job as a reporter with RTÉ Sport, working primarily on the digital side of the house, and last October I made the jump to this side of the industry.
What excites you about working in the business of sport?
I love seeing behind the curtain and feeling a little bit part of the big days. We go to plenty of matches and other sporting occasions as a fan, but often enough we’re working so we get a little insight into what goes on during the biggest sporting occasions.
I’m very fortunate that Teneo has a great roster of sports clients and that also means that I get to meet and interact with a broad range of sportspeople, from Olympians to All-Ireland winners and everything in between.
Also, having the chance to shape how these major sporting events come to life, even in a small way, is fun and satisfying.
And what would you find to be an occasional (or regular) frustration?
The whole Irish sporting industry, top to bottom, is far more professional now than when I started out more than 20 years ago. This is a good thing, of course, but I’m still allowed to miss the messy, haphazard olden days occasionally…
They were a lot of fun. From the perspective of our clients, it can be frustrating when the best-laid plans, often worked out over weeks and months, are blown out of the water by the rolling news cycle – like a player retiring or something massive happening elsewhere in the sport and dominating the coverage.
What are some of the things you have on your work agenda for the next twelve months?
In Teneo we’re doing a lot of really interesting work with Sport Ireland at the moment and it’s great to be involved with the body that is both helping our elite athletes reach their potential and getting the regular people of Ireland fitter and more active.
Of course, everything is up in the air at the moment due to the current situation around COVID-19 so schedules are changing and there is a lot of uncertainty, but we are busy working with clients to help them cope with the gulf left by the emptying of the established sporting calendar.
And give us one thing that you would like to achieve in a personal capacity?
I’m currently studying for a diploma in sponsorship from the Marketing Institute of Ireland. It’s really interesting and I look forward to finishing that (and hopefully doing well!) in the second half of the year.
Outside of your own sport give us one event in an Irish and one in an international context that you would like to experience?
Because of work, I haven’t been to an All-Ireland final with my lovely Dad since 1989 – I’m really looking forward to that changing this year.
Outside of Ireland; I love cycling so it would be great to spend the springtime following the Classics around Belgium and maybe trying a few of the routes myself.
Give us one sporting partnership over recent years that you admire?
I really like the work VHI are doing with parkrun and the Women’s Mini Marathon (and it’s not just because they are one of our clients!). I’m a huge believer in the power of community and exercise and this encourages and fosters both.
And one individual that you really respect?
Jurgen Klopp. I’m a lifelong Liverpool fan and the leadership he has shown through the current COVID-19 crisis only served to increase my man crush.
Tell us something about you that people might not know?
Now that I’m no longer able to play (I was never able to play, says you!), I’m now the chairperson of Ranelagh Gaels GAA club, a fast-growing GAA club in Dublin 6. It’s great to be part of such a brilliant community organisation and it feels like we are really making a positive difference in our members’ lives.
What is the thing about being a member of Sport for Business that you get the most from?
I really enjoy the daily update popping into my inbox – it’s the signal to make a cup of tea and take a few minutes to catch up on all that’s happening in our industry.
We also got to present the findings of our Teneo Sport Sentiment Index at a recent Sport for Business event in the Aviva Stadium earlier this year, which was a really fun morning.
And our Quickfire round to finish off…
Hurling/Camogie or Football?
The big ball game, all the way.
Football or Rugby World Cup
Soccer, no question.
Twitter or Instagram?
I spend more time on Twitter but Instagram is a nicer place to be.
Night in or a night out?
Sadly I have more nights in than nights out these days.
Early bird or night owl?
Night Owl
Favourite meal?
Mammy Sweeney’s Cooking always hits the spot.
Favourite Movie in the past twelve months?
I just watched For Sama, the Oscar-winning documentary about the siege of Aleppo in 2016. Powerful.
Favourite Song on your playlist?
I’m listening to a bit of Van Morrisson these days so it’s got to be St Dominic’s Preview
Favourite Book you’ve read in the past year?
Anquetil Alone, Paul Fournel’s biography of late cyclist Jacques Anquetil. A life less ordinary brilliantly told. And all very French!
Sporting Hero?
Growing up, Barney Rock (a cast-iron case for meeting your heroes – what a gent!). Now, Roger Federer.
If you are a member of Sport for Business and would like to take part in our Sport for Business Chats, email us today and we will be in touch.
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