Michael Verden will examine security issues and lessons from US sports leagues and events when he addresses two-day conference, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, on January 24 and 25.
Formerly a senior manager in the US secret service, Verden was Senior Director of Security for the National Basketball Association where he managed and coordinated the global security plan for the NBA’s international offices and players, conducting advance security visits in Greece, China, South Africa and Brazil. He was also responsible for monitoring all NBA criminal investigations and security-related incidents throughout the league. He designed and implemented the operational security plans for the 2005 NBA All Star Game in Denver and the 2006 NBA All Star Game in Houston. Verden was the on-site security supervisor for the NBA and responsible for the coordination of all security measures for these events.
He designed and coordinated seminars for the Major Events Management Training for the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, the Masters and the Breeders Cup and served as security adviser during the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowls. In addition, he supervised security for the USA Olympic Basketball Team during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
He joins a speaker line-up which includes some of the most experienced and insightful operators in the challenging and fast-moving sports security sector.
