CSM inks partnership with esports agency Code Red

CSM has announced a partnership with global esports agency Code Red, which is headed up by a strong team of vastly experienced esports professionals including Paul ‘Redeye’ Chaloner.

The partnership is designed to ‘provide the first full service esports offering’, which will combine Code Red’s esports know-how and experience with the global reach and strategic thinking of CSM.

CSM is a major sports and entertainment focused agency with a London office which is just one of their 25 globally spread across 18 countries and counting. The company counts Sebastian Coe as its Executive Chairman, and the firm has worked with the likes of Formula E, the Ryder Cup, Lucozade Sport, Verizon, Twickenham Stadium and more.

(From left: Paul Chaloner, Code Red, and Anthony Ganjou, CSM)

Paul Chaloner, Managing Director of Code Red Esports, said this of the deal: “CSM provides us with an opportunity to bring together the world’s biggest brands with the best offerings from the esports world, helping the industry grow even bigger.”  

The sentiment was echoed by Anthony Ganjou, CSM’s Head of Innovation & Technology who added: “The phenomenal growth of esports now represents an unparalleled opportunity for brands to engage and interact with an entirely new audience. We will work with brands and rights holders who are looking to enter the market to develop the right strategy and to maximise commercial opportunities.”

To mark the launch of the partnership, CSM and Code Red hosted an exclusive panel discussion earlier this week, with four industry leaders sharing their thoughts under the theme of ‘Demystifying Esports.’ Esports Insider were in attendance, and interviewed both Paul Chaloner and Anthony Ganjou, in a video which will be published in the near future.  

The demystification session of the evening was hosted by Paul Chaloner, with ESL UK MD James Dean, HP by Omen’s Yvonne Hobden, Pontus Eskilsson who is Senior Partnerships Manager at Twitch and on of the UK’s top pros; James ‘Bakery’ Baker on the panel. 

The speakers discussed the commercial opportunities for businesses and brands, how to properly engage with fans and general guidance on how to succeed in this emerging sector.

You can watch the full session right here:

Esports Insider says: CSM is a titan of a sports and entertainment industry having worked with a host of top brands and organisations around the world. With its brand partnerships, reach and capabilities coupled up with Code Red’s esports expertise and connections in our industry, both parties are sure to reap the rewards of this deal. We’re confident too that it’s a +1 for the esports industry as a whole, as it’ll mean more big brands entering, and entering the right way with the right guidance in place.