Fibra Football: " Sporting success is the decisive factor for penetrating overseas markets..." says Nikolaos Karaouzas Commercial Director, AEK F.C.

He is the Commercial Director of AEK F.C. , one of biggest clubs from the Greece, with a wide experience among the greatest football clubs in Greece . Follow this exclusive interview to our blog Fibra Football:

Fibra Football: Thank you for an exclusive interview. Tell us a little more about the challenges this year as Commercial Director of AEK. 
The greatest project for AEK is the new stadium which will be built in Nea Filadelfia, at the very same place the historical ground stoud and in the years to come it is expected to drive revenues to a whole different level. On a day to day basis, optimum commercial exploitation of the Club’s assets is always the case! Currently we are working on a number of strategic co-operations with key sponsors as well as a new wholesale and retail network for the Club’s official products. 

FB: AEK is one of the most successful Clubs in Greece. How do you manage all the commercial potential of this giant? 

As in all commercial & marketing efforts, it is crucial to set specific goals and a solid strategy to achieve them. We follow a predetermined action plan approved by the board and each project has a specific timeline and evaluation objectives. 

FB: What are the factors of greater impact, in your professional career? 
I have been working in the sports industry for the past 12 years. It has been really amazing to see how new technologies have been incorporated in the core of sports advertising and promotion strategies. The LED perimetrical pitch ad boards, social media and the growing importance of digital content through new media platforms, all three of them are indicative examples. 

FB: You have a wide experience among the greatest football clubs in Greece. How has Greek football responded to the economic crisis in the country? 

Football in Greece has always been attracting sponsors and broader advertising investments, as it remains very popular in growing audiences. Certainly the economic crisis is affecting all marketing budgets, yet football has proved to be a very competitive investment. 

FB: Can Greek football achieve greater commercial projection in other continents? 
Sporting success is the decisive factor for penetrating overseas markets. Euro 2004 is a great example, where Greece won the European Cup and commercial development on an international level did take place. A growing audience was interested on watching Greece’s games (TV and/or web), merchandising sales were boosted and a growing number of sponsors were involved.