www.spencerstuart.com
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Position and Candidate Specification
FIBA – International Basketball Federation
Executive Director, FIBA Americas
PREPARED BY:
Jamie Crittenberger
Nelamar Pineiro
Ricardo Rocco
Gabi Schupp
April 2017
Confidential: This document has been prepared for the exclusive use of the client named. Because it contains confidential information, its use should be
controlled and limited to the executives concerned. This information is given in good faith and is believed to be correct but may require verification.
FIBA
About the Company
FIBA – International Basketball Federation
FIBA, with headquarters in Switzerland, is the global governing body of basketball and an independent
association comprised of 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. FIBA has a truly
international reach, with five Regional Offices worldwide to support National Federations in their efforts to
develop basketball on the ground within the boundaries of each federation. FIBA is a non-profit organization
and is recognized as the ultimate authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
FIBA organizes and oversees international competitions including the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA
Women’s Basketball World Cup and the Olympic Basketball Tournaments, and establishes the Official Basketball
Rules as well as the regulations that govern the relationships between the different members of the global
basketball community.
Both the FIBA Vision (“Basketball is the most popular sport community”) and Mission (“We develop and
promote the game of basketball, bring people together and unite the community, which counts more than 450
million players and fans”) are reflected in the dynamic new organizational strategy being implemented by FIBA.
The implementation of FIBA’s new strategy is based on four main initiatives:
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Creation of the new basketball calendar and competition system
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Focus on 3x3 Basketball – FIBA’s urban discipline
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Establishment of new governance
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Development of national member federations
Under the new governance initiative FIBA has implemented the “ONE FIBA” project, aimed at integrating the
continental organization under one lead and management system. As a result, since January 1, 2015 FIBA has
integrated the five continental Zone Offices in its organization as divisions of FIBA, having now Regional Offices
on each continent.
FIBA has enjoyed significant growth in terms of revenues and resources over the years. With the new strategy,
and especially the intention to make the FIBA World Cup one of the main global sporting events, increasing
audience, visibility, and ultimately financial resources to further develop global basketball, FIBA’s ambitions
have to be supported by a strong Regional Office strategy in line with the new requirements.
The FIBA Americas Zone has 43 National Federations organized in three Sub-Zones (North America; South
America; and Central America and the Caribbean). Headcount for FIBA Americas amounts to 18 Full Time
Employees located at the Regional Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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FIBA
FIBA LEADERS
Patrick Baumann, Secretary General
Patrick Baumann, a Swiss national, first joined FIBA as a lawyer in 1994 and was appointed as
FIBA Deputy Secretary General in 1995.
In 2002, Mr Baumann was unanimously appointed by the FIBA Central Board as FIBA Secretary
General. He maintains this role today. He has an impressive educational background
consisting of an MBA from the Business School of the University of Chicago, a Masters in
Sports Administration Management (MEMOS) from the University of Lyon in France and a law
degree from the University of Lausanne. He speaks five languages. Mr Baumann became a
member of the International Olympic Committee in 2007. He participated as a member of the
IOC Evaluation Commissions for the Olympic Games 2008 and 2020 and of the Coordination
Commission for the 2012 Olympic Games. He is also a member of various other IOC
Commissions.
Mr Baumann was appointed to the International Advisory Board of the World Academy of
Sport (WAoS) in 2009. He has been a member of the International Council of Arbitration for
Sport (ICAS) since 2010 and was elected as a Council member of the Association of Summer
Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) in 2011 and re-elected in 2015. He is also currently
a member of the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2013,
President of the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee and Chair of the
IOC evaluation commission for the 2024 Olympic Games.
In April 2016, Mr. Baumann was elected President of SportAccord. He has been a basketball
player, coach and referee in Switzerland and Italy. Mr. Baumann is married and has two
children.
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FIBA
Position Summary
FIBA – International Basketball Federation
As a key member of the organizational General Management Team, the FIBA Americas Executive Director
reports directly to the FIBA Secretary General (Patrick Baumann), and assumes an important operational and
strategic role in the overall management of the entity responsible for FIBA on the American continent. The
Executive Director acts in the Zone of the Americas on behalf of the Secretary General of FIBA and works closely
with the FIBA Americas President and Board members.
The Executive Director’s main duties and responsibilities will consist in particular of conducting the business of
FIBA and executing strategic guidelines from the Secretary General within the Region; to develop the sport of
basketball; to assist the National Federations (NFs) in their development efforts; and to organize the relevant
official sport competitions in the Zone.
The Executive Director acts as Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Office established by FIBA within the Zone.
As such, he/she manages the Regional Office and assumes full responsibility for it. He/she has the power to
make all decisions necessary to manage the Regional Office within the authority delegated to him/her by the
General Statutes and Internal Regulations, as well as by decision of the Central Board and the Executive
Committee or the Secretary General. The Executive Director shall always act within the letter and spirit of the
General Statutes, Internal Regulations, other rules, regulations and decisions of FIBA and in the interest of FIBA
globally.
The Executive Director shall provide full information about the activities and financial status of the Regional
Office to the Zone Board and the Zone Assembly. He/she also ensures that all decisions of the Zone bodies
comply with the General Statutes, Internal Regulations and decisions of FIBA.
This position is based in the FIBA Americas headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to
Patrick Baumann, Secretary General
Direct reports
Victor Mansure, Regional Director Assistant
Javier Otero, Competitions Manager
Marisol Crispin, Office Manager
Anibal Garcia, National Federations & Sport Manager
Victor Ojeda, Basketball Academy
Other key
relationships
FIBA HQ staff
National Federations
Other Zone Executive Directors
Sponsors
Vendors
Media Partners
Officials, Coaches, Administrators, and Players
Continental/local governments & NGOs
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FIBA
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
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Lead and manage all aspects of the FIBA Americas business and staff
Support the National Federations in governance and development of the sport, particularly those with
limited financial resources or outdated sport infrastructure, facilities, and processes
Create attractive club competitions to accompany the new calendar for national teams
Develop the 3x3 basketball initiative
Secure additional financial resources and incremental partnership revenues for FIBA Americas
Refine and drive aggressive execution of an ambitious strategic business plan
Recruit key executive team members, as needed, and build the organization with speed, scale and
excellence
Establish greater brand identity, marketing strategies and target audiences through FIBA initiatives
Build greater regional audience and engagement, using all platforms and mediums, including social media
Manage relationships with best-in-class partners (technology, distribution, content, sponsorship)
Establish and foster an environment of both creativity/innovation and results/metrics within the Zone and
national federations
Develop a vision and strategic plan for FIBA Americas matching the One FIBA mandate, as well as generating
new ideas for the growth of basketball within the region
DESIRED OUTCOMES
Among other priorities, the candidate who is successful in the role as Executive Director of the Americas will:
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Ensure financial stability and profitability in the region
Establish an organized and efficient administrative structure
Develop National Federations and 3x3 basketball, and mandate the full participation of Federations in the
new competition system
Revamp and develop Liga de las Americas
Lead the San Juan office with commitment, engagement, and consistency
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FIBA
Candidate Profile
FIBA – International Basketball Federation
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
FIBA is seeking a seasoned operational and strategic leader as Executive Director who will drive FIBA Americas to
greater success by developing and implementing the One FIBA strategy in the Region. Additionally, the successful
placement will have the following key ideal attributes:
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15+ years of relevant operating experience in a senior management position in an international structure,
preferably with organizational oversight and Profit and Loss responsibility for an entity in the Americas region
Strong interest or background in sport, especially basketball
Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish mandatory; other languages a plus
International business background and open-minded cultural sensibilities, with particular knowledge of the
American continent and its diverse regions (South; Central and Caribbean; North)
CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Driving Results
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Identifies issues and presents alternatives and solutions to reach financial and organizational goals
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Measures results weekly and monthly with regard for waste of time and money
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Instills urgency with team and creates metrics to turn philosophy into deliverables and results
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Pushes the staff with clarity and candor
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Develops initiatives to transform the Zone
Strategic Thinking
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Thinks ahead and thinks big, but acts today and acts realistically
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Fully understands the FIBA vision, and can challenge it, revise it, make it better
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Proposes new approaches and opportunities linked to the evolving regional sports marketplace
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Challenges assumptions and conventional wisdom with specific, supported and reasoned proposals
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Links plans to value-creation
Collaborating and Decision Making
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Listens to FIBA and national federations, but is an independent thinker who will make own decisions
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Forms partnerships with outside entities and vendors, and manages the internal regional team to execute
and deliver on them, as needed
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Follows up quickly on numerous tasks at once
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Must be a likeable with global sensibilities.
OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
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Must be passionate about global sports and entertainment – on the court, on the sidelines, and in relating
with a business mindset to other like-minded regional and global partners
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FIBA
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Charismatic and inclusive executive who will provide credible, visible, and strong hands-on leadership
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Unquestionable ethics and a well-earned regional-wide reputation as a straightforward and honest leader
who has built loyal teams and leads like-minded employees by example
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Bringing energy and motivation, ready to engage and commit to FIBA success, both in the Americas and
globally
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Ready to travel within and outside of the Zone
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Both a teammate and leader: “Player-coach”
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Appreciation for the spirit of global competition and diplomacy through sport
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