SailGP appoints Erica Kerner as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Erica Kerner © SailGP

SailGP, the purpose-driven, global racing league has appointed Erica Kerner as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer after an extensive global search.

Kerner will lead the marketing and communications functions across the global business. A key focus will be growing SailGP's already enviable global audience and continue to build on its strong relationships with global distribution and broadcast partners as the league moves from Season 2 to 3, starting May 2022.

Kerner was previously SVP, Head of Marketing Strategy & Partnerships at ONE Championship - Asia's largest Sports Media Property. Prior to this she worked as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Tiffany & Co. Asia Pacific, and worked for adidas as global director of the brand's 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games programmes, responsible for all aspects of the company's marketing, sponsorship, licensing and business development activities. She was also previously Nike's first head of marketing for China and later a key member of their Asia Pacific and Global Retail marketing teams.

Kerner said: "It's exciting to be joining SailGP at this moment of enviable expansion for the championship, and I look forward to continuing to grow our dedicated fanbase through compelling storytelling about this adrenaline-filled sport. I'm also passionately committed to the league's mission to be the world's most sustainable sports property, and will be actively promoting and enhancing our various impact projects and initiatives to ensure we are always embracing our purpose to race for the future."

SailGP CEO Russell Coutts said "At a time of rapid expansion and aggressive growth we welcome Erica to our leadership team at SailGP. Her experience working at the biggest sporting events in the world and across some international leading brands has her perfectly placed to join the league at a time when it is establishing itself as one of the fastest growing properties in the international sporting calendar."

Since it's first season in 2019, SailGP has delivered incredible live racing action at dozens of iconic locations, broadcasting in more than 186 global markets to over 256 million homes on premier channels including CBS and CBS Sports, SKY Sports, BeIN APAC, FOX, Tencent, Travel Channel, SuperSport and Canal+.

Once again bringing the sport's best roster of athletes together, the global championship will welcome two new franchise teams for its recently announced third season, with Canada and Switzerland set to expand SailGP's reach to new audiences. They join teams from Australia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.

Season 2 concludes with the Mubadala United States Sail Grand Prix in San Francisco on March 26 and 27. Season 3 commences May 14-15 with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess.

SailGP Season 3 Schedule* // 2022-2023

May 14-15 // Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess
June 18-19 // United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
July 30-31 // Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
August 19-20 // ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Copenhagen
September 10-11 // France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
September 24-25 // Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía - Cádiz
November 11-12 // Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas
2023 // New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch

*Further events will be announced next month to complete Season 3, which will conclude April 2023 and is expected to comprise ten events.