[Source: ESA] Four female Directors were newly elected to the Board of the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) at the AGM in London.

Amy Mansell (Global Partnerships Director at ELEMIS), Ceri Powell (Head of Sponsorships & Partnerships at Orchard Media and Events Group), Grace O’Grady (Vice President, Account Management at Live Nation) and Tanya Townsend (Head of Sponsorship & Brand Activation at Three) were elected by their fellow ESA Members, while existing Board Director Risto Oksanen (CEO at Red Carpet Brand Alliances Oy) was re-elected.

The election of four women to fill the five vacant positions means ESA now has nine female and seven male Board Directors – a female majority for the first time.

A new high of five representatives based outside of the UK is also evidence of the increasingly diverse European sponsorship community, while Amy Mansell’s and Tanya Townsend’s success in the election increases the brand representation on the Board to five companies.

Filip Waegemans (Owner and Sponsorship Expert at Skaut) and Michael Hope-Milne (Enterprise Director at Pearl & Dean) were also appointed Board Advisors.

Besides the elections, ESA also presented information to members from all existing workstreams and the new Arts & Culture and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Workstreams, as well as information about the continuing growth of the membership community.

ESA Chair Sophie Morris said: “I’m extremely proud of how our community continues to elevate sponsorship standards across the continent, making the industry more dynamic, more sustainable and more representative, and today’s AGM gave us the chance to reflect on this progress.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Amy, Ceri, Grace and Tanya to the Board of Directors and it’s wonderful to see Risto continue his tenure. We look forward to working with all five of them and it’s wonderful that we have such a diverse Board as we continue to focus on our role as the essential and inclusive community for all professionals working in sponsorship.

“As we continue to bring new members into our international community we will remain focused on giving all sponsorship professionals the best possible value and a rewarding experience in all aspects of their engagement with ESA.

“It is great news for ESA that Filip Waegemans and Michael Hope-Milne will support the Board in an advisory capacity. And I am hugely grateful to Antony Douglass, James Goode, Jenny Seymour and Misha Sher for the outstanding contribution they have made in their time as ESA Board Directors, and hope they will all remain a part of our thriving community.”