Bringing PSG Football Club into the Web3 Era

The challenges:

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), one of the top three football clubs in the world and owned by Qatar's beIN Group, sought to carve out a new frontier in digital innovation by embracing Web3 and the metaverse. To achieve this, they needed a Head of Web3 and Metaverse—someone capable of defining and leading this transformative journey.

This role was highly complex and required a unique combination of entrepreneurial spirit, the ability to navigate an intricate organisational structure, and the vision to create a new digital strategy for a global brand. Since such roles did not previously exist in traditional football organisations, finding the right talent was particularly challenging.

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Our approach

1. Defining the Role in an Ambiguous Context
   We collaborated closely with PSG’s leadership to refine the expectations for this pioneering role. Given its innovative scope, we worked to clarify the blend of strategic vision, technical expertise, and leadership capabilities needed to bring PSG into the Web3 and metaverse era.
2. Presenting Diverse Talent
   Due to the ambiguous nature of the role, we curated a diverse pool of candidates from various industries. While their professional backgrounds differed, each candidate possessed the core expertise PSG required, such as blockchain knowledge, experience with metaverse technologies, and a track record of leading innovative projects.
   
3. Targeted Talent Search
   Recognizing the niche nature of the role, we conducted an exhaustive search:
   
   • Profiles Reviewed: Over 1,000 profiles from across industries.
   • Initial Conversations: We interviewed approximately 50 candidates to assess their entrepreneurial mindset, technical understanding of Web3, and ability to thrive in a highly structured environment.
   • Longlist and Shortlist: We refined our search to a longlist of 12 candidates, from which 3 were shortlisted and presented to PSG’s leadership team.
4. Tailored Candidate Preparation
   We ensured that our shortlisted candidates were thoroughly briefed on PSG’s expectations, organisational structure, and the challenges of carving out a new role within a high-profile organisation. This preparation was critical to setting both the client and the candidates up for success.
   

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The Outcome

We successfully placed a Head of Web3 and Metaverse who brought the perfect balance of entrepreneurial drive and adaptability to thrive in PSG’s complex environment. This individual is now leading PSG’s transition into the digital age, creating groundbreaking initiatives in Web3 and the metaverse, and positioning the club as a trailblazer in digital fan engagement and innovation.

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Key results

• Pioneering Hire: Delivered a candidate uniquely suited to define and lead a new era of digital innovation for PSG.
• Comprehensive Process: Scoured 1,000 profiles, conducted 50 interviews, and shortlisted candidates from diverse but relevant backgrounds.
• Strategic Impact: Enabled PSG to establish a clear Web3 and metaverse strategy, reinforcing their position as a forward-thinking global sports brand.

This project exemplifies our ability to navigate uncharted territory in recruitment, identifying and securing talent for roles at the cutting edge of innovation. By deeply understanding both our client’s needs and the evolving digital landscape, we helped PSG lay the foundation for their Web3 journey.