Staff

STEPHEN CHAPMAN – DIRECTOR

'Chappie' has been involved in Sports Merchandise since 1993, when he joined up with Gareth Sykes to run and promote the Commonwealth Games Challenge, raising money for the 1994 England Commonwealth Games Team - and utilising merchandise as part of that process. Through the nineties and into the early 2000's Chappie worked on events as varied as from the operation of all merchandise at the Millennium Stadium, through various National Championships, working with the FA on their travels whilst Wembley was re-built, the Manchester Commonwealth Games and various Rock tour programmes. His career in the industry has provided him with extensive knowledge and more recently he has helped develop an extensive range of branded and licensed apparel for distribution through UK and International Retail. Commercial partners have included Joma, Burda, RFU, Avon, Bath Rugby, RBS 6 Nations and many others. Stephen is now operating the UK arm of Team Elite - which has sister operations in Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States. In Chappie's previous sporting career, he played 178 first class games for Coventry RFC and played for England Under 21's.

GARETH SYKES – DIRECTOR

Gareth has been involved in Sports Merchandise since 1991, when as promotor of the European Masters Swimming Championships, he saw the value in event merchandise. Since then, Gareth’s experience includes negotiating and seeing through merchandise contracts as a licensor, licensee, event venue merchandiser and wholesaler. Previous commercial partners include Australian Rugby Union, Welsh Rugby Union, RFU, British & Irish Lions, 6 Nations, Football Association, The Grand National, British Olympic Association, Asian Football Confederation, Swimming Australia, Swimming Queensland, Swimming New South Wales, FINA, World Rowing, World Masters Athletics and all the current Team Elite commercial partners. Gareth Swam for Great Britain for six years, competing at the World and European Swimming Championships. He also attended the University of Florida and University of California, Berkeley on Swimming Scholarship, the latter of which, he is a graduate.

AISHA THORNTON – GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Aisha is a fully qualified graphic designer working for Team Elite on a part time basis - as she is also a full time swimmer, having competed for Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and many more events. Aisha brings a creative flair with experience of working with major brands on their swimwear lines and style applications.

EVENT STAFF 

Team Elite has a strong force of casual staff that join the company to help ensure our events work well and professionally. Too many to list here, but we enjoy great relationships with staff all over the UK.