Watson Events

Derek Aframe '96 -- Harnessing Fan Passion: A Look Inside Global Sports and Entertainment Marketing

Harnessing Fan Passion: A Look Inside Global Sports and Entertainment Marketing Derek Aframe '96, Senior Vice President, Consulting, Octagon Worldwide

In his eight years at Octagon, Derek Aframe has developed marketing strategies and overseen successful negotiations with nearly every major domestic and international sports property on behalf of clients. He currently leads the MasterCard and Cisco global account teams, managing a team of over 45 consultants in 14 offices worldwide. He also advises other Octagon clients such as Itau, AB-InBev, All State, The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot and others on soccer and overall sponsorship marketing strategy.

He previously served as Vice President of Operations for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS) of the Kraft Sports Group and as advisor to the Executive Producer for ABC/ESPN’s broadcast of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was also the Boston venue press officer for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup , and Rhode Island State Manager for the Associated Press for the 1996 General Election.

Derek earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, specializing in marketing strategy and operations, and a dual degree in American History and English Literature from Brown University, where he also was an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program and currently serves as the President of the Brown Men’s Soccer fundraising organization.

He appears regularly in the sports and business press as Octagon’s spokesperson for matters pertaining to soccer in North America.

Presented by Brown Sports Business Club, Watson Institute for International Studies and the Swearer Center for Public Service.

Location: Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute, 111 Thayer Street.