David Szlezak confirmed as Managing Director of EHF Marketing GmbH

The EHF has confirmed that David Szlezak has taken on the Managing Director’s role at EHF Marketing GmbH on a permanent basis, having been appointed to the position on an interim basis in February 2016.

Szlezak has been with EHF Marketing GmbH since 2010 and previously held the positions of VELUX EHF FINAL4 Manager and Assistant Managing Director.

His background in the sport includes a long and successful career as a professional player in the German Bundesliga and for the Austrian national team.

The EHF President, Jean Brihault, and EHF Secretary General, Michael Wiederer, were given the go-ahead to negotiate a contract with the new Managing Director by the EHF Executive Committee at their meeting in Vienna in June 2016.

Speaking about his appointment, David Szlezak, said: “We’ve already achieved a great deal in the Champions League, and have an experienced team of people in Vienna, who know and understand the competition and our partners very well.

“I see it as my task to continue to build on this success and the relationships we have developed with our long-standing partners, while at the same time driving innovation and new ideas to ensure we stay ahead on the international sports market.”

EHF Marketing GmbH, a daughter company of the EHF, manages the media and marketing rights of leading club handball competitions including the VELUX EHF Champions League and Women’s EHF Champions League as well as the organisation of final events including the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

The company, based out of the EHF Office in Vienna, Austria, has been further strengthened ahead of the new season with the addition of two new staff members.

Katharina Hacker has joined the team as of 1 September and will work on business development. Anna Farbowski will support the further development of the VELUX EHF Champions League ‘Match of the Week’ concept.

The VELUX EHF Champions League season throws off on Wednesday, 21 September with top clashes in the first round including SG Flensburg-Handewitt against Telekom Veszprém and THW Kiel against Paris Saint-Germain Handball.

The new season will see 28 teams competing for the chance to play in the VELUX EHF FINAL4, which takes place in Cologne, Germany on 3/4 June 2017.