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Iniesta joins FedEx in recognizing SMEs influencing football industry

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Iniesta joins FedEx in recognizing SMEs influencing football industry
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John A. Smith FedEx Express Leadership President and Chief Executive Officer U.S. & Canada Ground Operations | FedEx

Global football figure Andrés Iniesta is leading FedEx's new 'Champions of Business' campaign, aimed at highlighting innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) shaping the football industry. The campaign, co-launched with The Financial Times, features a list of these pioneering companies.

Iniesta joined Dan Vines, Senior Vice President – Sales of FedEx Europe, and Bex Smith, a former football player, entrepreneur, and CEO, to hear stories from businesses included in this new list. These businesses are recognized for their influence in football and their role in driving innovation within the sport, ranging from technological advancements to enhanced fan experiences.

As part of the launch, three businesses from this list presented their stories to Iniesta, Vines, and Smith. Eyeball.club, based in the Czech Republic, has developed technology to improve player scouting globally. The Waste Transformers from the Netherlands showcased their containerized biodigesters that convert food waste from stadiums into clean energy and fertilizers. Zone14 from Austria has created an intelligent camera system, presenting player performance data extracted from video recordings, benefiting football clubs internationally.

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A survey conducted by The Financial Times for the FedEx campaign found that 71% of European football clubs see SME businesses as valuable contributors. Currently, 47% of these clubs source from at least three in ten SMEs, with 85% aiming to do so within the next three years.

Andrés Iniesta stated, “Football isn’t just about what happens on the pitch; it’s also about the behind-the-scenes efforts of companies innovating the sector and elevating the game we love. It was truly inspiring to hear how these businesses are impacting and shaping the future of football. The FedEx Champions of Business list is an incredible way to acknowledge and highlight the businesses driving real change in the sport.”

Dan Vines commented, “The FedEx Champions of Business list is dedicated to recognising the businesses that are shaping the future of football. Through our collaboration with The Financial Times, we have created an impactful and insightful list that highlights the contributions of SME businesses within the sport. It was a pleasure working with Andrés and Bex, both of which are highly respected in the worlds of football and business.”

Bex Smith added, "“It was truly inspiring to hear the three business stories from the FedEx Champions of Business list, alongside Dan and Andrés. Each of these businesses showcases innovation and pushes the boundaries of what is possible within the football industry, which is exactly what we need. It is fantastic to see FedEx recognising and celebrating these forward-thinking companies that will undoubtedly shape the future of the sport we all know and love.”

The full list of companies can be seen online.

Organizations Included in this History
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