Rob Pilgrim

Critic
DISC Type : C

Head of Sport, EMEA at Meta

London, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Rob Pilgrim is Metas Head of Sport for EMEA, where he leads strategic partnerships at the intersection of sports, media, and technology. An expert in commercial innovation and digital content strategy, he previously led the launch of YouTube Primetime Channels. People who have worked with him describe him as a natural leader with a clear vision.

Rob is passionate about socioeconomic inclusion, fueled by his own experience as the first in his family to attend the University of Oxford on a funded bursary. He actively supports improving opportunities for those from challenging backgrounds and is a founding trustee for the education-through-football charity, Future Academy.

He was named to the Leaders Under 40 Class of 2022 by Sport Business for his impact on the industry.

Personality Overview

Critic

Negotiator

Objective Thinker

They like to do things independently and don’t look for support from others.  They are quite likely to negotiate on pricing or other key terms. They choose to analyze logically and value facts to emotions.

Topics They Care About

Digital Fan Engagement
His work at Meta and YouTube focuses on leveraging technology and platforms like Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp to create the next dimension of fandom and deepen audience connection.
Sports Media Innovation
He is focused on shaping the future of sports content through emerging formats, including AR/VR experiences, immersive media, and new ventures like YouTube Primetime Channels.
Socioeconomic Inclusion
As a founding trustee of the Future Academy charity, he is dedicated to providing educational opportunities through sport for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Media Appearances

EXCLUSIVE: Why Ex‑YouTube Sports exec left for Meta. Featured in Apple Podcasts

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Connecting with Fans in the Third Space – Meta with Rob Pilgrim. Featured in Spotify

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Rob Pilgrim [#62]: Making YouTube the Best Digital Destination for Sports Fans. Featured in Sports Pundit Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts)

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Work History

9-2025
Head of Sport, EMEA at Meta
5-2017 - 9-2025
Head of Sport and Primetime, EMEA at YouTube
11-2015 - 4-2017
Global Operations Lead, Google Hardware at Google
7-2011 - 10-2015
Industry Manager, Sport & Healthcare at Google

Education

2017 - 2017
Education details unavailable from altMBA
2007 - 2011
MA Hons from University of Oxford

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 14 Location : London, England, United Kingdom Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Head of Sport, EMEA at Meta
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Insights For Selling To Rob

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Leverage facts and figures wherever possible; use percentages, numbers etc.
  • Use phrases like ‘expect X% improvement’, ‘data clearly shows’ etc.
  • Tell them what ROI they can expect

DONT's

  • Avoid phrases like ‘trust me’, ‘others just love’ etc.
  • Don't give superficial answers, they are easily rattled by them
  • Avoid pushing them too much to involve other stakeholders unless it is critical

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Rob is

  • Proven ROI, pricing and objective proof points are the factors that sway their decision.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Rob

  • They are comfortable saying no if they are convinced that it is the correct decision.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Rob move?

  • They are neither the fastest nor the slowest decision makers, they are somewhere in the middle.
  • Can Rob take some risk or not?

  • They can bear some risk if their analysis backs the decision.

You And Rob

Personality Compatibility


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