Business

Newry-based STATSports recognised for £1bn US Soccer deal

Ciaran Hancock, Irish Times business editor presenting The Irish Times Deal of the Year Award 2018 to Jarlath Quinn, group managing director of StatSport and Paul McKernan, chief customer and information officer.
Ciaran Hancock, Irish Times business editor presenting The Irish Times Deal of the Year Award 2018 to Jarlath Quinn, group managing director of StatSport and Paul McKernan, chief customer and information officer. Ciaran Hancock, Irish Times business editor presenting The Irish Times Deal of the Year Award 2018 to Jarlath Quinn, group managing director of StatSport and Paul McKernan, chief customer and information officer.

NEWRY-based STATSports has been recognised for securing a £1 billion deal with the US Soccer Federation at a recent business awards.

The sports analytics company won the Deal of the Year Award at the inaugural Irish Times Business Awards, held in Dublin.

Jarlath Quinn, group managing director of StatSports and Paul McKernan, CIO, received the award from Ciarán Hancock, business editor of The Irish Times at a gala ceremony at the Mansion House, attended by over 350 people, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The Newry firm secured the ground-breaking deal with the US Soccer Federation in March and the partnership will see millions of registered footballers wearing performance technology similar to that used by the game’s top players, within three years. The five-year contract is also expected to help it to uncover the next generation of elite players. It is also believed to be the biggest contract ever to be signed in the elite sports wearables market.

The growing company, which already counts Manchester United, the Irish rugby team and NFL franchises as clients, also recently secured a tie-up with Brazil Football Confederation ahead of the World Cup. The contract, agreed last month will see STATSports provide its pioneering APEX Team Series GPS device to all national teams within the federation. This means the device will be worn by the five-time champions during this summer’s World Cup in Russia with other nations including holders Germany, European champions Portugal, Belgium, England, Poland, Denmark and Morocco also availing of STATSports technology during the tournament.

Siobhán Talbot, the managing director of Glanbia, was the winner of The Irish Times Business Person of the Year Award. Ms Talbot was one of 11 winners of The Irish Times Business Person of the Month Awards which were launched last May and who was eligible for the overall award. She was adjudged the overall winner for her efforts in overseeing a deal to spin off Glanbia’s Irish dairy and agribusiness operation into a joint venture called Glanbia Ireland.