Kelly Simmons Joins Run Communications
The former FA Director of the Women’s Professional Game, Kelly Simmons, has joined leading sports communications agency Run Communications in a consultancy role as the agency looks to build on the recent growth of women and girls’ football and the impact of the Lionesses success at the home 2022 Euros and 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Simmons, who received an OBE in 2021 for her services to women’s football, spent 30 years with the FA driving the grassroots growth and the professionalisation of the women and girls’ game.
In her most recent role, she presided over a period which saw the launch of first ever fully professional WSL (Women’s Super League) in 2018 which continues to deliver record breaking attendances and unprecedented interest in the women’s game.
She will support Run as they look to develop more projects in women and girls’ football and in particular look to harness the wider impact of its growth at grassroots and community level.
During both the 2022 Euros and the more recent World Cup, the agency worked alongside The National Lottery to highlight the role played by Lottery players and Lottery funding to the growth of the game which included working with a number of former and current Lionesses and grassroots clubs across the country.
Speaking of her move, Simmons, commented: “I’m delighted to be working alongside Run who are powerful advocates for inclusion in sport whether that’s women and girls’ football or promoting the wider social and positive impact that sport has for a range of people and communities.
“Women and girls’ football has been on an incredible journey in recent years and I’ve always recognised the important role that impactful and engaging communications has played in this growth.”
Steve Chisholm, Founder, Run Communications, added: “Kelly has without doubt been one of the key driving forces behind the incredible growth of the women and girls’ game, so we are absolutely thrilled to be working with her at such an exciting time for it following the recent game changing achievements of the Lionesses and the ongoing success of the WSL.
“She shares our passion for what this means at all levels of the game but, in particular, to opening up more opportunities for women and girls to play.”
