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| Conor Ridge and Ross Fisher |
As with almost every profession in the world including journalists there are good eggs and bad eggs and stories regarding the latter tend to attract more attention. Less than 15 years ago the notion of sports agents was very much in its infancy in Ireland however since then several individuals have taken huge steps forward to the point where they compete for the most important signatures in their specialist areas. Agents are crucial to their clients in terms of helping them maximize their income away from their sport as well as helping them manage their relationship with their sport and the general public. These three Irishmen seem to be doing a fantastic job for their athletes.
Conor Ridge.
Conor a native of Galway and former student in UCD cut his teeth in the sports agency business with Fintan Drury's sports management business Drury Sports Management. Conor worked mainly within golf in terms of player management as well as player organisation. While enjoying the experience Ridge has never been shy about declaring his ambition to have his own sports agency and since Jauary 2005 that is exactly what has happened. While initially open to athletes across several sports (track athletes Derval O'Rourke & David Gillick were among his first clients) Horizon have in recent years focused primarily in golf and on building up connections in almost every related industry for their clients. Beginning by managing up and coming Irish golfers like Colm Moriarty Horizon have gradually moved on to higher profile players from Graeme Mac Dowell and Ross Fisher to current World No. 1 Rory McIlroy. All three having transferred from higher profile agencies IMG and ISM to Ridges smaller stable. Beyond these three Ridge also boasts the likes of Gareth Maybin, Paul Cutler and Shane Lowry. Mac Dowell in particular has taken timeout at various points to praise Ridge's management saying after the announcement that McIlroy would be joining the team 'He’s got the experience and the corporate connections. He’s connected himself around the world with everyone and is well-respected in world golf. He has the credentials to manage a Rory McIlroy'. Conor in my view is very much a straight up business person who enjoys sport and working with people and this is clearly something which goes down well with his players. Ridge is clearly careful about ensuring any focus of attention is on his players and not himself unlike other high profile agents. An example of this is how the company website deliberately does not contain a list of players attached to the agency as a boast of how much of the sports industry he controls. Hes happy for his work to do the talking. His next stated aim is to break into the US and Asia and given his success in recent years its difficult to see him not achieving this.
Conor a native of Galway and former student in UCD cut his teeth in the sports agency business with Fintan Drury's sports management business Drury Sports Management. Conor worked mainly within golf in terms of player management as well as player organisation. While enjoying the experience Ridge has never been shy about declaring his ambition to have his own sports agency and since Jauary 2005 that is exactly what has happened. While initially open to athletes across several sports (track athletes Derval O'Rourke & David Gillick were among his first clients) Horizon have in recent years focused primarily in golf and on building up connections in almost every related industry for their clients. Beginning by managing up and coming Irish golfers like Colm Moriarty Horizon have gradually moved on to higher profile players from Graeme Mac Dowell and Ross Fisher to current World No. 1 Rory McIlroy. All three having transferred from higher profile agencies IMG and ISM to Ridges smaller stable. Beyond these three Ridge also boasts the likes of Gareth Maybin, Paul Cutler and Shane Lowry. Mac Dowell in particular has taken timeout at various points to praise Ridge's management saying after the announcement that McIlroy would be joining the team 'He’s got the experience and the corporate connections. He’s connected himself around the world with everyone and is well-respected in world golf. He has the credentials to manage a Rory McIlroy'. Conor in my view is very much a straight up business person who enjoys sport and working with people and this is clearly something which goes down well with his players. Ridge is clearly careful about ensuring any focus of attention is on his players and not himself unlike other high profile agents. An example of this is how the company website deliberately does not contain a list of players attached to the agency as a boast of how much of the sports industry he controls. Hes happy for his work to do the talking. His next stated aim is to break into the US and Asia and given his success in recent years its difficult to see him not achieving this.
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| Ricky Simms |
Ricky Simms.
Former Irish International middle distance runner Ricky Simms is today director of one of the most powerful sports agencies in the world PACE Sports Management in London boasting the likes of Mo Farah, Moses Kipsiro and quite possibly the biggest sports personality in the world Usain Bolt. Describing himself as both a coach and agent Simms is well liked in the athletics world with Bolt who has known him since he was 16 describing him as close to a brother. Simm's success and connection building started as captain of Finn Valley athletic club in Donegal and continued via Sonia O'Sullivan to becoming top English coach Kim McDonald's right hand man at his sports agency. When McDonald passed away tragically in 2001 Simm's picked up the baton and has done a tremendous job of maintaining areas like Kenya where McDonald had a strong reputation as well as others such as Jamaica which is a relatively new frontier for the company. Simm's motto of helping runners on the track and allowing endorsements follow has been successful to the point where Simm's acknowledges he can pick and choose to a certain extent the talent in his group. Simm's to his credit has never forgot where he is from and has consistently brought his finest athletes to Ireland. An example of this being Mo Farah who has ran in Donegals Finn Valley Stephens Day Road race. Ricky has also confirmed there are plans for Bolt to visit whenever space exists in his schedule. With Kenyan's, Americans, Jamaicans, Canadians, Brits and Ugandan's part of his current group the only challenge which might remain is to develop an Irish athlete within the group.
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| John Baker |
John Baker.
Baker is a little different to the aforementioned agents in that his focus is primarily in Ireland while at the same time stretched across several sports. Since 1997 and the formation of his company BSMG John has built a team jam packed with expertise for the various needs of his clients. While the majority of his portfolio are rugby players Baker also has a presence in cricket, golf, football and the GAA. On the rugby front his clients include Ireland-based Irish Internationals Paul O'Connell, Keith Earls & Shane Jennings. In addition to this Baker has professional rugby clients in France, England, Wales and Australia including several members of the emerging Russian national team. Outside of rugby Bakers focus has been on picking talent in a variety of sports who have the ability to go all the way to the top. Examples of these include Stade Rennais goalkeeper Niall Burdon and young go-carting champion Nicole Coffey. With 25 years experience and a reputation for being able to take care of every little thing John is sure to remain at the centre of the business in Ireland for some time.
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