In a major move for the commercial sports landscape, a consultancy founded by former Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold has entered a strategic partnership with the private equity-owned Volleyball World. City AM can reveal that Red Tiger Marketing will today announce the deal with the league, which is run by CVC Capital Partners.
A Partnership for Global Growth
The agreement, struck on Wednesday 14 January 2026, is designed to drive the long-term growth and commercial transformation of volleyball worldwide. Red Tiger Marketing, a joint venture between Arnold and former LIV Golf head of franchise operations Laurence Miller, will support Volleyball World in developing and delivering its global commercial strategy.
The focus will be squarely on sponsorship, strategic partnerships, and initiatives aimed at brand-led growth. This partnership underscores the increasing influence of data and private equity in reshaping the business of sport.
The Expanding CVC Sports Empire
Volleyball World sits within CVC Capital Partners' formidable Global Sport Group, a collection of the firm's sporting assets. This group is positioned as an industry juggernaut, capable of using debt financing and external investment to pursue acquisitions throughout 2026.
The Global Sport Group's portfolio is extensive and includes major investments in:
- The Six Nations rugby tournament
- Premiership Rugby (Prem Rugby)
- The Ultimate Rugby Championship
- Spain's LaLiga
- France's Ligue 1
- Volleyball World
It is important to note that CVC's separate investment in the Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans is not part of this Global Sport Group.
Executive Vision for a Premium Platform
Laurence Miller of Red Tiger Marketing praised Volleyball World's progress, stating it has built a world-class portfolio with enormous momentum. He expressed excitement about working with Oliver Clarke, Volleyball World's chief partnership officer, and his team.
"We're applying our data-led and technology-driven approach to help accelerate commercial growth and unlock new, high-value partnerships," Miller said.
Oliver Clarke of Volleyball World echoed this sentiment, highlighting the league's ambitious vision for global growth. "Partnering with Red Tiger strengthens our commercial capabilities as we continue to build a premium, future-facing platform for brands looking to connect with our global audience," Clarke added.
Red Tiger's Broader Ambitions
This deal marks a significant step for Red Tiger Marketing, which is understood to be announcing a series of partnerships across various sports in 2026. The venture represents Richard Arnold's first major move since departing Manchester United in 2023, after nearly two decades at the club.
Last year, Arnold outlined Red Tiger's mission, saying: "Red Tiger is about applying world-class thinking, data-driven strategy, and operational discipline to help sports organisations realise their full commercial potential." This partnership with a CVC-backed entity is a powerful testament to that strategy now in action.
