The DFL, the German soccer league body, has extended the contracts of Peer Naubert and Bastian Zuber, the managing directors of its Bundesliga International and DFL Digital Sports subsidiaries, respectively.
The duo will continue in their current roles until at least 2028.
Naubert has been working for the DFL Group since 2018. In his role as managing director of Bundesliga International, he is responsible for the DFL’s international marketing, including media rights sales for the top-flight Bundesliga and second-tier Bundesliga 2 matches, the global distribution of sponsorship and licensing partnerships, as well as the implementation of the DFL marketing strategy.
He joined the DFL as chief marketing officer of its international arm before being promoted to lead the league’s global commercial rights division in 2022 following the departure of Robert Klein.
Before joining the DFL, Naubert worked as senior vice president of market development at the Sportfive international sports marketing agency.
Steffen Merkel, DFL chief executive and chairman of the supervisory board of Bundesliga International, said: “Despite the challenges of a difficult market, Peer Naubert and his team have been able to compensate remarkably quickly for the coronavirus-related declines in our international marketing in recent seasons and achieve growth.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“With his expertise, experience, and personality, Peer Naubert is a very important building block for our further growth strategy. We are therefore very happy to have him on board.”
Zuber, meanwhile, has been working for DFL Digital Sports since 2012. He joined the newly founded DFL subsidiary from professional services company PwC, initially serving as commercial director and later as director and authorised signatory. He was appointed managing director in September 2019.
He is responsible for managing web and app content, social media channels, and the production of formats for the international product portfolio. Since the beginning of 2024, he has also been responsible for the DFL’s Digital Business Development Directorate, which works closely with DFL Digital Sports to implement digital initiatives and growth projects.
Marc Lenz, DFL CEO and chairman of the supervisory board of DFL Digital Sports, said: “Digital offerings are an important factor globally in bringing the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 closer to the fans.
“DFL Digital Sports implements our online offerings very well through fan and broadcaster-oriented offerings, which also strengthens the central marketing and growth prospects of the clubs. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Bastian Zuber as a valued digital expert and to further developing the DFL Group and media offerings together.”
The DFL has solidified its senior leadership team in recent weeks after also renewing the contracts of Merkel and Lenz through 2029.
The DFL’s supervisory board unanimously decided to extend the pair’s tenure, having first appointed them to the joint position in June 2023.
