Graduate makes Top 100 marketing influencers | News

October 2024

Go-getting graduate makes Top 100 in UK marketing influencer awards

By Melanie Hall

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A go-getting graduate who started his career as a campaign creator for high profile sports teams overseas and now markets VIP hospitality for the likes of Wimbledon has been named one of the top 100 influencers in marketing.

Tom Ravenhill, senior marketing manager for Keith Prowse Hospitality, joins the likes of Deliveroo’s global director in the Top 100 Marketing Influencers Index 2024, unveiled at the Technology for Marketing show at London’s ExCeL.

Even more impressive, Tom was placed 47th, making the top 50 influencers.

During his sports degree at University College Birmingham, Tom studied everything from development and innovation in sport to operational sports management, but also international marketing.

He also completed an internship at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and with sports nutrition brand Grenade, as well as going on residential trips to Berlin and Krakow during his studies.

On graduation, he secured a role as marketing strategist for Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a Canadian Major League Soccer team, which saw him creating campaigns with high-profile brands including Adidas and EA Sports.

After eight years, the 33-year-old is back on home turf doing what he does best.

He said: “Since moving back to England, I’m looking after the award-winning hospitality experiences at Wimbledon, which are already 70% sold out for 2025. We also work with Edgbaston cricket ground, Twickenham rugby, The Oval and BST in Hyde Park, amongst many others.

"I'm incredibly proud to crack the top 50 of a very talented cohort of 100 in this list - bodes very nicely as I move into my 10th year since graduation.”

He added that University College Birmingham had sparked and nurtured his love for marketing. "In general, I especially loved the debate and seminar facets of each module, where I could argue my side of the coin verbally, a coveted real-life business skill," he said.

“I don’t think I would have flourished the way I did if it wasn’t for the University. It also opened my eyes to how global the sports business industry truly is and that it lends itself to international mobility. Hence why I moved to Canada two weeks after my last exam.”

University College Birmingham offers a range of marketing-related and sports degrees including: