Introduction to Volleyball World and CVC Global Sport Group

Wednesday 12 November 2025 6:00 am  |  Updated:  Tuesday 11 November 2025 4:37 pm

Volleyball World is part of the CVC Global Sport Group. The chief executive of Volleyball World has described his organisation’s integration into CVC Capital Partners’ Global Sport Group as an “immediate win”.

The private equity giants who count the Six Nations, LaLiga, Prem Rugby, and Ligue 1 as part of their sporting portfolio have pooled their assets into one mega sport fund chaired by former EE chief Marc Allera.

The $14bn fund is understood to be, in part, a shopping window for potential Gulf sovereign wealth engagement in the future.

Benefits of Integration into CVC Global Sport Group

And the new chief of Volleyball World, former Grand Slam Board figure Ugo Valensi, can see the upsides to being part of the CVC Global Sport Group (GSG).

“They’ve hired advisers and people working with them that can be a support for us,” he tells City AM. “So I see an immediate proof of that on the marketing side, all of our CMOs and digital officers from all the different sports participating in GSG are connecting really closely.

“CVC organised a workshop last week to brainstorm ideas together. On the commercial side it is probably more complicated, because we are intrinsically different beasts. Other sports, which are more domestic, especially on the football or rugby side, are overly reliant on media.

“We’re quite different because we are a very diversified business between hosting major events, sponsorship, media and betting.”

Volleyball World’s Joint Venture with CVC Capital Partners

Volleyball World is a joint venture between the sport’s governing FIVB body and CVC Capital Partners. Valensi says he has used his three months in the job to confirm women’s and men’s world championships in the United States, Qatar and Philippines, and says he will look at the sport through an increasingly more important Asian lens given the development of volleyball fandom on the continent.

CVC x Volleyball World

“We clearly have lots to do to help others [in GSG] build their social media and digital strategies,” Valensi adds. “But on the other hand, there’s plenty that the other sports organisations are probably doing it in a different way than we are doing. So I think I see that as an immediate win for all parties.”

The former Sportfive marketing agency – a business he sold to private equity firm H.I.G Capital in 2020 – chief executive says it is “clear” that CVC Capital Partners’ investment in volleyball was a good one, adding that the opportunities for the sport will only see it grow. Valensi does, however, confirm that there are no immediate plans to bring volleyball to London given the popularity of the sport in other markets.

“I see that there’s clearly bridges between the different organisations, but probably more on the marketing side and support functions, and probably a bit less on the revenue generation side,” he concludes on the Global Sport Group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Volleyball World’s integration into the CVC Global Sport Group is expected to bring numerous benefits to the sport, including increased support and resources. With the joint venture between Volleyball World and CVC Capital Partners, the sport is poised for growth and development, particularly in the Asian market. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Volleyball World leverages its partnership with CVC to increase its global reach and popularity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the CVC Global Sport Group?

A: The CVC Global Sport Group is a mega sport fund that pools the assets of various sports organisations, including the Six Nations, LaLiga, Prem Rugby, and Ligue 1, into one entity.

Q: Who is the chairman of the CVC Global Sport Group?

A: The chairman of the CVC Global Sport Group is former EE chief Marc Allera.

Q: What is the value of the CVC Global Sport Group fund?

A: The CVC Global Sport Group fund is valued at $14bn.

Q: What are the benefits of Volleyball World’s integration into the CVC Global Sport Group?

A: The benefits of Volleyball World’s integration into the CVC Global Sport Group include increased support and resources, particularly on the marketing side, as well as opportunities for growth and development in the Asian market.