Sam Hollis to hold dual roles at America’s Cup Event Authority

Sam Hollis

Following the departure of Harvey Schiller, who held the position of Commercial Commissioner for the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) until August 31, that role is now filled by Sam Hollis.

Schiller held the position for two years, which was a new role introduced for the 35th America’s Cup. The Commercial Commissioner’s position was said to be responsible for the supervision, management, and protection of the commercial interests connected to the America’s Cup, and in that position work closely with all of the competitors, the Regatta Director, and the America’s Cup Event Authority.

Hollis will hold the dual role of Commercial Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer for the ACEA, the commercial rights holder tasked with the organizing of the 35th America’s Cup. Hollis joined the America’s Cup in 2010 and has been at the center of the planning, structuring and delivery of AC34 previously, and now AC35.

As a senior sports lawyer specialising in the structuring, marketing, sale and delivery of a full range of commercial rights in sport—including venue agreements, sponsorship, broadcasting, licensing, merchandising, hospitality and commercial ticketing, Hollis previously worked at the International Cricket Council advising on legal issues arising in respect of the ICC Cricket World Cup and their other international cricket events.

Hollis has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in law from Oxford University, and he originally trained and qualified at Freshfields in London, where he was part of the team that advised London 2012 on its successful bid to host the Olympics.

Source: ISS, America’s Cup