Michael is the Executive Chairman of the Madison Sports Group and Managing Partner of Operating Capital Partners LLP, an investment firm that he founded in 2008. OCP invests primarily in private companies – both established and new – and currently has investments in over 25 companies. Prior to founding OCP, Michael oversaw Citigroup’s private equity operations in Europe as Managing Director–Europe for Citigroup Venture Capital from 1999 to 2008. He began his career in the London office of Goldman Sachs International after graduating as a Lauder Fellow with a dual masters MA and MBA degree from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania in 1989.

James runs the business at Madison Sports Group and has a deep knowledge of sports and events, sponsorship, broadcasting, hospitality and ticketing, Prior to joining Madison Sports Group, James ran the P1 world series of powerboat and jet-ski races, the world’s largest marine Motorsport brand with offices in London, Florida, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur. Under James‘ stewardship, P1 launched three separate series of races and promoted events in 14 countries across three continents including the world championships in Mumbai, which was broadcast live on ESPN in India and picked up by more than 150 countries worldwide. Prior to joining P1, James spent ten years in the rugby world as Commercial Director of Premiership Rugby’s London Irish and Eastwood Rugby Club, a Premiership club in Sydney. James earned his Masters in Sports Management and Business degrees from the University of Technology, Sydney. James is an Australian national but has lived in London since 2005 and is married with two children.

Valts has been in the events from his early age. Started with musical and cultural events as a kid, moved to an early TV show for kids in teens and eventually became a part of a rock festival soon after starting University. For seven years working for a Radio SWH as the head of regional station, Valts started to dive into world of sports events. From an official track announcer at internation luge and skeleton events, to BMX and athletics. In 2007 he became the head of organising commitee of U16 European Championship Women in basketball and since than has been involved in basketball. Organising various basketball chanpionships untill 2010, when he joined FIBA (International Basketball Federation). For 6 years he was part of a team that developed the big change how European Basketball Championships are organised nowadays. Now he has joined Madison Sports Group to manage the operations in Germany.