Leadership
John Guppy
Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing founder, John Guppy, has built a reputation over the past 20 years as one of the leading authorities on the business of soccer marketing, sponsorship, broadcast, management, and brand development. The former Chicago Fire President/CEO and Octagon Director has helped more than 50 brands develop and execute marketing platforms to reach the US Soccer consumer.
Brand Marketing Experience
John’s extensive corporate marketing experience began in 1991 when he managed the US Soccer Federation’s national corporate partnerships with clients; Canon, Chiquita Bananas, Fujifilm, Gatorade, JVC, and Sprint. Since that time he has helped design, execute, manage, and track soccer initiatives for a broad and diverse roster of clients from almost every industry including: apparel, automotive, consumer products, electronics, energy, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, retail, technology, and telecommunications. Programs have targeted various soccer consumer profiles from youth soccer families, to Hispanic, to Adult Participants to Soccer Moms.
John has played a prominent role in the management and development of numerous US soccer properties at every level of the sport including: US Soccer Federation, Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Chicago Fire, NY/NJ MetroStars, DC United, US Youth Soccer, APSL, College Soccer, and the Reebok Cup. His experiences have included strategic planning, sponsorship exploitation, broadcast negotiation, research development, and event and hospitality management.
As President/CEO of the Chicago Fire John led the MLS Club to unprecedented business growth during his 3-year tenure. He guided the Club’s move from Soldier Field to its new home at Toyota Park, using the transition as a means to strengthen the Club’s brand identity, double ticket revenues and quintuple sponsorship support. Prior to joining the Chicago Fire, John spent 5 years as the Executive Vice-President of the NY/NJ MetroStars overseeing all commercial endeavors for the Club.
Personal
John grew up playing soccer in Winchester, England. At age 14 he signed an Associate Schoolboy contract with his local professional Club, Southampton FC. His playing career later brought him to the United States on a scholarship at New Hampshire College, where he became a two-time All-American and captained his team to a National Championship in 1989. Although drafted by the Dayton Dynamo, John elected instead to continue school and begin coaching, becoming an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts and running his own soccer camps.
John holds a Masters Degree in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts. In 2006, he was nominated by Crain’s Chicago Business magazine as one of the city’s 40 under 40 most important business executives. He lives in Naperville, Illinois with his wife and three children.
