Robert Müller von Vultejus is Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, the global sports marketing agency. The company was named one of the Most Attractive Employers in Sport in the 2026 report published by iWorkinSport. This interview is part of the series featured in the publication.
The 2026 study gathered responses from 1,051 people representing 58 nationalities and living in 50 countries, with three quarters already working in sport. Respondents selected their preferred employers from category shortlists, considering the same job description and salary adjusted for the cost of living in each country. For the Overall ranking, they answered one open-ended question: “What would you say is the employer of your dreams in sport?” No shortlist was provided, and only one organisation could be named.
The report presents rankings across ten categories: Football Clubs, Sports Teams (other than Football), Sports Leagues, Sports Governing Bodies, Event Organisers, Sports Marketing Agencies, Sponsors, Sporting Goods Brands, Sports Tech Companies, and Media & Broadcast, alongside the Overall ranking. It also features interviews with industry leaders about their organisations, the changing world of work and building a career in sport.
Interview with Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE has once again performed exceptionally well in the MAES survey and maintained its position among the industry’s most attractive employers. What do you believe is driving this sustained appeal, and how do you ensure it translates into an authentic employee experience?
At SPORTFIVE, we take a people-first approach, creating an environment where colleagues feel empowered, motivated and recognised. It's not about ticking boxes but embedding our values into everyday culture and continually improving how we support and develop our people.
We want employees to experience our values of fearlessness, freedom, unity, resilience and openness through a workplace built on trust, belonging and pride, rather than simply displaying them on office walls in order to create a culture where our people feel a genuine sense of belonging, trust and pride in being part of SPORTFIVE and live these values.
Beyond our culture, SPORTFIVE offers unrivalled exposure across the sports industry, working with rightsholders, brands, broadcasters and fans. Alongside this, our international network, stretching across 60+ locations worldwide, creates countless opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional growth, helping teams produce outstanding work on a global scale.
As the sports business evolves across sponsorship, media, data, digital platforms and content, which professional profiles and capabilities are becoming increasingly important at SPORTFIVE?
The sports industry is becoming more connected than ever, with sponsorship, media, content and technology increasingly working hand in hand. As a result, we're seeing growing demand for professionals who can combine commercial thinking with digital and analytical capabilities.
At SPORTFIVE, we're particularly interested in talent that can translate insights into action, whether that's through data and analytics, content strategy, partnership activation, audience development or digital innovation.
The ability to build relationships, think creatively, solve problems and adapt to a rapidly changing landscape remains just as important. As sport continues to evolve, the most valuable professionals are those who can excel in their individual roles, while understanding how their work contributes to the bigger picture, whether that's delivering for clients or supporting wider business objectives.
SPORTFIVE operates across numerous markets, sports and areas of expertise. What opportunities do employees have to build an international career within the organisation, and how do you encourage collaboration and mobility between teams?
One of the biggest advantages of working at SPORTFIVE is the scale and diversity of our business. With more than 60 offices worldwide, employees have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across different markets, sports and specialist areas on a daily basis.
We actively encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration across the business, as this exposure allows employees to broaden their experience beyond their local market and develop a truly global perspective on the sports industry.
Whether it's collaborating on international projects, sharing expertise across teams or exploring opportunities in different markets, we want our people to have access to experiences that support both their personal and professional growth.
Our Global Sales Organisation for example is a unique competitive advantage within the sports industry and a model that few businesses can replicate. We are proud to continuously develop and strengthen this global network, which sits at the heart of our growth strategy. As our ambitions extend beyond the success of individual markets, we approach opportunities through a truly global lens, connecting expertise, assets, and relationships across regions. The GSO serves as the foundation for this approach, enabling sustainable growth and ensuring that we maximize opportunities for our clients, partners, and SPORTFIVE worldwide.
The sports industry is known for its demanding, fast-paced environment. How does SPORTFIVE balance delivering outstanding results for clients with supporting employees’ professional development and wellbeing?
Our people are passionate about working in the sports industry because of its fast-paced nature and the unique energy it brings. To thrive in such a dynamic environment and deliver the best results for clients, we know our people need to feel supported, valued and empowered. That's why creating a positive workplace culture is a priority at SPORTFIVE.
We take a people-first approach that prioritises wellbeing, development and engagement alongside performance. To get the most out of this, each of our markets leads their own initiatives and adapts development and wellbeing to their local needs.
Through initiatives like our Women's Network, which creates opportunities for female colleagues to connect and share experiences, and our Mentoring Program, which supports internal networking and opportunities in a trusted environment, alongside a range of employee benefits available to employees across our offices, we provide meaningful support that positively impacts everyday working life.
By encouraging open conversations, feedback and career development opportunities, we build high-performing teams founded on trust. From our accredited in-house Leadership Programme to external conferences and accreditations, we invest in helping our people grow and succeed. This is why we see investing in our people as a fundamental way of doing business.
Many talented professionals would like to enter the sports industry but have built their experience in other sectors. Which transferable skills does SPORTFIVE particularly value, and what advice would you give to candidates seeking to make that transition?
While a passion for sport is important, many of the skills needed to succeed in our industry are highly transferable. Strong communication, stakeholder management, commercial awareness, project management, sales, data analytics, creativity and problem-solving are all valuable regardless of sector.
Our advice to candidates looking to make a move into the sport industry is to build an understanding of the role and environment they are aspiring towards and learn how their experience adds value within this sphere, instead of focusing on the experience they might lack.
The sports industry benefits from diverse perspectives, and professionals from different backgrounds can bring fresh ideas and approaches that can help drive business success.
Be curious, stay informed about industry trends, build your network and demonstrate both your passion for sport and the impact you've delivered throughout your career.