FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2018
New York, NY – An international sport veteran with more than 20 years of experience designing and directing strategic communications, brand and broadcast programs in the Olympic Movement is joining the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) as Chief Brand and Communications Officer.
FIL Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr announced today that Darryl Seibel will begin his new role with FIL in mid-January 2019. Seibel will be responsible for working with the FIL Board of Directors, led by President Sue Redfern, Scherr and stakeholders throughout the sport to develop and implement strategies that support the continued growth of lacrosse worldwide, including the introduction of a new brand platform for FIL.
The Federation of International Lacrosse is the international governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse, representing 62 member-nations worldwide. FIL is responsible for the governance of lacrosse and provides support to the overall development of the sport worldwide.
Seibel will work with stakeholders to implement communications strategies that generate increased awareness and support for lacrosse globally; identify opportunities to introduce the sport to new audiences by leveraging traditional and emerging media platforms; and, develop marketing campaigns that generate greater commercial value in FIL properties and assets such as World Championships and international age-group championships.
On November 30, the Federation of International Lacrosse was honored to receive Provisional Recognition by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board. Seibel will support the ongoing efforts of the FIL Board of Directors, Scherr and other stakeholders to once again earn inclusion for lacrosse on the Olympic Games Programme.
“Darryl is held in high regard in the Olympic Movement and he brings an impressive record of success in strategic communications, brand development, marketing and broadcasting to FIL,” said Scherr. “His understanding of international sport, vast network of professional contacts and expertise in designing strategic communications programs that support brand growth and revenue generation will be of great value to our organization.”
“This is an exciting moment in time for the Federation of International Lacrosse and the sport globally,” Seibel said. “With visionary leadership, a rapidly growing base of participants and the contributions of dedicated volunteers, FIL is poised to write one of the great success stories in international sport. I’m honored to have the opportunity to play a part in shaping that narrative and in supporting the continued growth of this wonderful sport around the world.”
Seibel’s international sport experience encompasses 10 Olympic Games and includes serving as Chief Communications Officer / Director of Communications for two of the most successful National Olympic Committees in sport: the British Olympic Association (2009-14) and the United States Olympic Committee (2003-2009). Seibel directed the overall media relations program and served as spokesperson for Team GB at three Olympic Games: Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and Sochi 2014. Working with Scherr, who was Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee at the time, Seibel held those same responsibilities for Team USA at three Olympic Games: Athens 2004, Turin 2006 and Beijing 2008.
Seibel also directed the strategic communications program for World Sailing, the international federation for sailing, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He was a press officer for the USOC at the Barcelona 1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Salt Lake City 2002 Games.
From 1992-99, Seibel served as Director of Communications for USA Hockey. He joined the U.S. Olympic Committee as Associate Director of Communications in 1999 and was named Chief Communications Officer in 2003. During his time with the USOC, Seibel worked closely with two Olympic and Paralympic bids: New York City 2012 and Chicago 2016.
Following the Sochi 2014 Games, Seibel transitioned from international sport to intercollegiate athletics in the United States. He served as Deputy Director of Athletics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 2014-17 and, in his current role, is Chief Brand and Communications Officer for the Mountain West, an NCAA Division I athletic conference comprised of 12 universities in the Western United States.
