The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) today announced that Jane Hansom, currently Head of Communications, will take up a new role advising the PTO Athlete Board alongside PTO Chairman, Charles Adamo. Anthony Scammell, a London-based sports communication specialist, also joins as Communications Director.
Hansom has more than a decade of experience in Triathlon from both a participatory and industry perspective having competed as an amateur for more than 15 years. As the founder of Sponge Marketing, a leading sports marketing agency, Hansom has run marketing campaigns for a variety of industry brands including Huub, Cervelo, Brooks and Challenge Family as well as industry stakeholders including holding the position of Chair of The Triathlon Industry Association. She has competed as part of the GB Age Group team and achieved countless podium finishes in age group events around the world, including wins at Challenge Roth and the Ironman World Championship.
“The PTO’s unique ownership model, where athletes are co-owners of the business, as well as innovative gender equality and maternity policies, mean that the PTO is leading the evolution of sports organisations,” commented Hansom. “I love this sport and have first-hand experience of how extraordinarily talented our professionals are to be able to compete at the level they do. I am very proud to be a part of this forward-thinking organisation, particularly this year as the PTO Tour adds age group racing to its events.”
Scammell joins the PTO as Communications Director and will lead all media relations as the PTO continues its journey to elevate the sport and showcase professional triathlon and its superhuman athletes into the attention of the mainstream media and general sports fans.
Speaking about his move, Anthony said: “I’ve been very privileged to have worked agency-side for a host of different brands and rights holders involved in the world of sport and whilst I’ve loved the variety, the prospect of being able to really focus my efforts on the single mission of the PTO was something I didn’t want to miss out on.”
“The more I discovered about the PTO, the more I was convinced it was the right opportunity for me. With amazing athletes not just involved, but co-owners and set to benefit directly from the organisation’s success, the PTO is quickly rewriting the industry rulebook for how a sports body should operate and creating the template for rights holders of the future.”
Prior to joining the PTO, Anthony was a Director in Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ award-winning Sports + Partnership Marketing team for 15 years. Based in London, but splitting his time over the last three years between leading work on international clients such as HSBC, SailGP and Team GB and getting involved in projects for the agency’s fast-growing Middle East Sports+Entertainment division. Before H+K, he led the Sports offering at Weber Shandwick in London.
“We are at the start of a crucial period,” explained Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer at the PTO. “So we are thrilled to have Anthony join the PTO team. His experience, knowledge and energy will be a big asset as we look to showcase our new events and professional triathletes to sports fans around the world.”
Charles Adamo commented: “We are very pleased that Jane will be taking up her new role supporting the PTO Athlete Board. Her wealth of experience will be of invaluable assistance to the PTO Athlete Board in establishing and implementing polices to strengthen the PTO’s mission.”
