Barrie Gill

31st October 1934 – 22nd January 2003

Barrie Gill, one of the founders of the UK sports sponsorship industry has died. He will be remembered as one of the greatest ambassadors, as well as one of the most influential figures, in the growth and development of the business of sports marketing and sponsorship.

His career, which was always dominated by sport, began as a journalist with the Bury Times. He became a highly respected motorsport broadcaster with the BBC before he joined the Ford Motor Company.

He was responsible for developing Ford’s early motorsport sponsorship strategies and it was this involvement which led to him setting up CSS in 1973.

As Chief Executive and Chairman, he oversaw the growth of CSS into one of the leading sports marketing companies in the UK. CSS was responsible for the groundbreaking central football sponsorship contracts with the Football League and was also one of the most influential companies in the development of sponsorship within Formula 1 and motorsport in general.

In 1999, CSS merged with Stellar Management and CSS Stellar floated in November 2000 and is now one of the UK’s largest sports marketing and entertainment groups.

In 1990, Barrie became a founder member of ESCA (the European Sponsorship Consultants’ Association). He served as Chairman of ESCA for a total of 7 years over two periods between 1990 and 2002. He was also heavily involved in charitable work as a Trustee of the Chairman of the Lord’s Taverners and Chairman of the Motor Racing Committee.

Barrie was one of the most respected and well-loved figures in the sponsorship world and in 2000 was voted the Hollis Sponsorship Personality of the Year.

He was always in demand as a speaker at sponsorship and marketing conferences and acted as Chairman of many such conferences over the years. He will be remembered as one of the great characters and innovators of the industry and will be greatly missed by all his friends and colleagues.

He leaves a wife, Sally and two sons, Nick and Paul.

For further information please contact:

Nigel Currie
M: 07774 229305