Extreme E appoints David Gillett as Head of Media Rights

Extreme E, the radical electric racing series which has just completed its second season, has further strengthened its team with David Gillett joining as Head of Media Rights.   

With a proven track-record, Gillett is well versed in the world of motorsport and using the necessary tools to build broadcaster growth and engagement on a global scale. 

Having previously worked at Formula One Management from 2006 where he spent 11 years working in the media rights team, David Gillett then moved to Pitch International and worked on behalf of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Most recently a three-year stint at IMG, looking after the FIA World Rallycross rights, introduced David to the off-road racing world.

In his new role with Extreme E, Gillett will be responsible for negotiating and maintaining current broadcasters as well as delivering new partnerships – the end goal being to increase television coverage of the Championship and boost its global fan-base. 

David Gillett, Head of Media Rights, Extreme E, said: “Extreme E has created a unique and thrilling motorsport package, which is like Mad Max meets Blue Planet. The only series which features the top male and female off-roaders going head to head in the same format; remote locations which provide a stunning backdrop to short, sharp wheel-to-wheel racing which goes right to the line; all wrapped up with hugely positive purpose – a race for the planet which raises awareness for e-mobility and climate issues.

“Our TV coverage is crucial in giving fans a front row seat to the action, as they can’t join in person for races. As a lifelong motorsport fan, I could not ask for a better opportunity than to be part of the team which gets to make this groundbreaking new motorsport as accessible as possible for everybody to watch, wherever they live in the world, and help it grow its audience base. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Gillett is looking forward to linking up once again with former IMG Motorsport colleague James Taylor, who joined Extreme E at its inception back in May 2019. Taylor previously worked as IMG’s Vice President for the FIA World Rallycross Championship, where he was responsible for managing the IMG Rallycross team and overseeing the series’ partners and venues.
 
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “David Gillett is hugely talented, and I am delighted that he has joined us at Extreme E. We have an impressive team here which is vastly experienced across all forms of motorsport, and beyond. We are all passionate about creating a motorsport which has real purpose and are certainly enjoying the journey as we continue to explore new ways to make this unique series famous.”

Recently, Extreme E, together with its host broadcast agency Aurora Media Worldwide, won two accolades at the prestigious SVG (Sports Video Group) Awards in Amsterdam. The pioneering duo were presented with SVG’s coveted One Planet award for Sustainability in Sports (TV) and Outstanding Production (Event) award.

Since the series launched last year, Extreme E has won the following awards:

• Broadcast Tech Awards 2022: Remote Production of the Year, Arctic X Prix
• SVG (Sports Video Group) Awards 2022: One Planet award for Sustainability in Sports (TV) and Outstanding Production (Event) award
• Sport Industry Awards 2022: Environmental Sustainability Award 
• The Race Media Awards 2022: Brand of the Year, alongside Interstate Creative Partners
• Motorsport UK’s Night of Champions 2022: Environmental Award
• Broadcast Tech Awards 2021: Technical Innovation (Sport) Award and Creative Use of AR/VR, alongside Aurora Media Worldwide and North One
• Broadcast Sport Awards 2021: Sports Production of the Year
• Leaders Sports Awards 2021: The Sustainability Award

Extreme E’s Season 3 kicks off in NEOM, Saudi Arabia on 11-12 March 2023 before heading to Scotland, Sardinia, with Round 4 taking place either in the Amazon or the USA, and rounding off their season finale in Chile.