Sinrich died unexpectedly after a short illness on Friday 2 February 2007. He was being treated for depression at the time.
Michel Masquelier, Executive Vice President and IMG Media’s Head of Acquisition & Sales Worldwide, said, “Bill was my boss for 10 years. He was an outstanding intellect and taught me a lot. I feel very numb and my thoughts are with his wife.”
Michael Payne, former marketing and television director of the International Olympic Committee described himself as “blown away” when he heard the news in India where Sinrich changed the media face of the national sport.
“Bill made a major contribution to the sports broadcast industry throughout the world by opening up broadcast solutions beyond the traditional level,” said Payne.
“He was an absolute professional across rights management and in creating technical solutions to enhance sports broadcasts.”
As one of the sport business world’s leading figures Sinrich had been at the forefront of the growth of the sports industry for over 20 years and was constantly driving new business initiatives. Under his leadership, TWI, now IMG Media, became the world’s largest independent sports producer and distributor, with a string of prestigious clients including the International Olympic Committee, Wimbledon, the R & A, and the IRB (Rugby World Cup).
Previously a journalist, Sinrich had joined TWI in 1987 and was responsible for building the company to the point where it now produces over 6,000 hours of television annually – nearly one-third live in sports and entertainment including the European golf tour and Test match cricket – and has a total of 1,800 employees worldwide.
Ever the innovator, he oversaw TWI's expansion from sports into factual and entertainment programming and was responsible for a number of TWI’s ground-breaking projects, including pioneering live coverage of major sport including Cricket in India and the West Indies in the 1990’s, and the first live coverage of soccer for an international audience from China, in 1994.
Just before his departure from IMG, Sinrich led the team which, on behalf of IMG/ TWI, renewed its 12-year partnership with the IRB to be commercial brokers for the next two Rugby World Cups in 2007 and 2011. He left the company in February 2006 only after differences over organisational changes and the future strategic direction of IMG and TWI under its new ownership of Forstmann Little & Co., the New York private investment firm.
Sinrich's stint at IMG/ TWI saw him promoted from managing director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East to global president and chief executive in October 2001 and then to director of TWI and Executive Vice-President, IMG, Corporate Board Member and member of the decision-making Office of the Chairman. Co-Chairman.
Sinrich grew up in Stamford, CT, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978.
There will be a memorial service in due course.
Bill's widow, Nicola Cornwell, has asked that no flowers be sent but that any donations go to Sport Relief (www.sportrelief.com ). Messages of condolence to be sent to condolences@birchhouse.net
A full appreciation will appear in the March issue of SportBusiness International.
