Introductory Profile

One of the world's leading sports executives driving innovation and cutting-edge methods across the high-performance world.

Based in New York, originally from the UK, Mike Forde is one of the world's leading sports executives, recognised for creating "game changing" methodologies around the management of world class, multi-cultural talent. His work has become a benchmark for leading teams around the world, from elite sports to corporate talent management. He is a consultant to San Antonio Spurs; Atlanta Falcons, Manchester United; Team Sky Cycling. Having worked in the English Premier League for the past 15 years. He is widely recognized as a leading figure in the EPL and European Soccer for driving innovation and cutting-edge methods across the high-performance world.

Between August 2007 and June 2013, he was Director of Football Operations & Executive Club Director for Chelsea Football Club in the EPL, dealing with all areas of performance and team operations relating to the 1st team, including player recruitment; medical; sport science; psychology and performance analysis. In this period Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League title and three FA Cups – the most successful era in the club's history. He was responsible for overseeing the performance development of the team which included multiple FIFA World Cup, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winners. He also worked very closely on a daily basis with some of the sport's greatest ever coaches including Carlo Ancelotti, Luiz Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Andre Villas-Boas and Rafael Benitez.

Mike is a sought-after expert in sports business discussions, drawing on his elite experience to impart and develop wide ranging learning, integration and best practice in high performance and its practical implications and transfer to the world of business. He currently delivers over 50 keynote speeches per year across the globe on High Performance, Talent Management themes to some of the leading private businesses in the world. He has worked for clients across many industries, including banking, real estate, IT, consulting and others.  He has delivered speeches to companies including Accenture, Barclays, Deloitte, Teradata, Etisalat, Delta Airlines, Bloomberg, Equifax, Royal Mail, Schlumberger, Lloyds, Saatchi & Saatchi, Hill & Knowlton, Leaders in Performance, Colt Enterprise Services, Procter & Gamble, PWC and many others.

His speaking topics include:

• Creating a High-Performance Environment in Sport and in Business
• The DNA of a High Achiever – Cultivating a Winning Mindset
• Big Data and Performance – Competitive Edge for Business