Matchtight: Staff information

Caroline Searle BA (Hons) - Director:

A former sports journalist before becoming British Olympic Association press officer and then Public Affairs Director from 1987 - 1992. This followed three years as press and public relations officer at the Badminton Association of England. Has extensive contacts with the sports, news, sports marketing and leisure consumer media both through Olympic business and new clients developed since going into independent business in 1992. Also has extensive network of contacts within individual and umbrella sports governing bodies and athlete groups in the UK. Highly experienced in the facilities needed by the media at both multi-sport and single sport international events including the Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and World Student Games.

Bryn Vaile MBE - Director:

1988 Olympic Gold medallist in sailing's Star class keelboat. Awarded the MBE in 1989 for services to sport - the same year in which he was voted the Yachtsman of the Year. A trained marketing executive who previously worked for Mobil Oil, Mondosport (sports sponsorship) and PNTA (marketing consultancy). Member of the British Olympic Association's Athletes' Committee from 1989 until 1993. One of the authors of the BOA Athlete Report 1993 which was widely accepted by the sports world as an authoritative basis for the future of British Sport, leading to the creation of an English Institute of Sport. A former BOA presenter of lifestyle and planning for success courses and one of UK Sports World Class Advisors on Events and Elite Performance. In a voluntary capacity he has worked with British Bob-Skeleton Association on their performance strategy & planning as well as overall management since 2003 and is currently President of the organisation.

Matchtight Employees and Associates:

Steve Ballinger is a highly experienced press officer/copy-writer - who ran Matchtight's news service for the British Olympic Association at Beiling 2008 and for the British Paralympic Association at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and for Team England at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

In addition Matchtight works closely with a number of well-established media relations and event management professionals to deliver its larger projects. These include Matchtight's project manager for Manchester 2002, Phil Searle, experienced media centre and services operators, Francesca Bullock and event IT technology and website adviser Tristan Nelson.