The Pools has appointed Sharon Wright, an award-winning marketing strategist with extensive experience at global brands such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok, as its new Marketing Director. Wright is set to lead a significant growth initiative for The Pools in 2025, launching a high-profile, multi-channel marketing campaign aimed at elevating the brand’s presence.

Wright brings a wealth of expertise in finance, customer experience, sales and marketing, having held substantial roles in renowned sports companies. She joined The Adidas Group in 2009 and later became Reebok’s Global Go-to-Market Director in 2013, where she spearheaded the successful launches of the Reebok-Crossfit partnership in the UK and the Reebok-Les Mills partnership globally. Her efforts significantly expanded Reebok’s presence in the studio category, further solidifying its global market position.

Earlier in her career, Wright played a pivotal role in growing Nike and Adidas’ women’s business to become the leading segment in the UK and Ireland. In 2017, she founded her own consultancy, Sports Business Growth, focusing on the intersection of sports and technology, specifically apps and subscription models.

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Wright is also Chair of Powerplay The Future, a platform connecting investors with female-led startups, and serves on the Advisory Board for Everything in Sport, a global network of top executives in the sports industry.

In her new role at The Pools, Wright will collaborate closely with CEO James Arnold and report to COO Steve Talbot as she drives the brand’s strategic marketing initiatives into the future.

Sharon Wright, The Pools Marketing Director, said: “I came to The Pools as a consultant and I always knew the value of this iconic brand. The immense amount of potential I could see to help take this back to where it belongs was an opportunity I could not resist. Coupled with the fact I get to work with James and Steve who I greatly admire. They are a dynamic force, proven in the industry and their energy and drive is infectious and something I wanted to be part of.

“It’s an exciting moment for us as we relaunch this iconic brand with a campaign that celebrates its timeless appeal while connecting with today’s audience in new and engaging ways. It showcases our investment in our products and customer experience.”

James Arnold, The Pools CEO, said: “The Pools is a British institution. We celebrated our 100-year anniversary last year and there just aren’t brands out there in our industry with the same history and heritage.

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“We’ve been working hard to modernise our technical infrastructure and improve the wider product portfolio, culminating in the move to a new gaming platform and the relaunch of a new website at the end of this year. We have high expectations in 2025 as we rebrand, relaunch, and reintroduce The Pools to a new audience.

“We wanted some fresh thinking when it comes to marketing, and with Sharon’s experience at such global sporting brands, combined with her outstanding background in growth strategy, it was clear she was the ideal candidate for this position. We are excited she is joining the team and look forward to her integral role in the future of our successes.”