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Company

Who we are

XV was born out of our passion for the power of sport to positively impact communities.
We aspire to do amazing things with great people, driving scalable commercial success and adding value to sport.

Our way

Values
Respect
Discipline
Humility
Commitment
Strengths
Innovation
Leadership
Connection
Simplification
Qualities
Positivity
Authenticity
Integrity
Growth mindset

Our executive team

XV was built on aligned values and purpose, complementary strengths and skill sets, and a significant combined global network in sport, financial services and technology.

James Godfrey

Chief Executive Officer & Founding Partner
James Godfrey
Chief Executive Officer & Founding Partner

James represented Australian Schools, U21’s and Barbarians, before transitioning into the business of sport in 1997, joining Godfrey Pembroke as GM of athletesfirst.

Post MLC’s purchase of Godfrey Pembroke, James continued to work in wealth management with Invesco Asset Management, Apsley Recruitment and Godfrey Group (founded in 2004).

From 2010, James has combined sport and financial services as a Director - SEQ Sports & Entertainment finance, Head of Sport - Newington College, GM - Foundation at NSW Rugby, CEO - Loyals Rugby, Consultant – 2031/2033 USA Rugby World Cup Bid and Founding Partner at XV Capital.

He sits on various private and not for profit Boards including XV Capital (Chairman), intaneous, Cohesion Capital and NSW Positive Rugby Foundation. He is a former Board member of the Major League Rugby and the US RWC Bid Partnership.

Stirling Mortlock

Chief Investment Officer & Founding Partner
Stirling Mortlock
Chief Investment Officer & Founding Partner

Stirling is a former international rugby union player, known for his physicality and strong leadership. In a career spanning 15 years, Stirling earned 140 Super Rugby caps and 80 Wallaby test caps. He captained Australia from 2006-2010 and in 2012 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to rugby.

While still playing professionally, Stirling joined Citi Institutional Equities and then moved to NAB in various Wealth Management and Institutional roles. After 10 years of corporate life, Stirling transitioned into a boutique Advisory firm specialising in Alternate Investments (predominantly technology), servicing UHNW Advisors and Family Offices.

In 2019, Stirling attended the Japan RWC, sparking his interest in combining his love of sport with his expertise in technology and financial services. He subsequently consulted to the 2031/2033 USA Rugby World Cup Bid, and founded XV Capital in 2020 with ex-teammate James Godfrey.

Stirling sits on various private and not for profit Boards including XV Capital, Sportable Australia, GAINLINE Analytics, Cohesion Capital (Chairman) and The Rugby Club Foundation (Treasurer & Chair of the IC). He is a former Board member of the Melbourne Rebels, the Rugby Union Players Association and the US RWC Bid Partnership.

Rob Smith

Chief Commercial Officer & Partner
Rob Smith
Chief Commercial Officer & Partner

Rob has worked in the Australasian sport and entertainment industry for more than 20 years. After practising law for a number of years he joined IMG as in-house legal counsel before moving to the ARU (now Rugby Australia) to head up player contracting and collective bargaining agreement administration. Rob then spent over 4 years with sports marketing agency Sport & Entertainment Limited (SEL), during which time he was responsible for talent management, commercial rights sales, account management and legal and business affairs.

After SEL, Rob joined the team at CSM Sport and Entertainment as Managing Director, Australia. At CSM Rob was privileged to represent a number of rights holder, event and brand clients, including Cricket Australia, Netball Australia, Supercars, Invictus Games2018 Sydney, Jeep, Hisense, HSBC, Specsavers and Legacy NSW. In a career with many highlights, Rob is particularly proud of his work with Netball NSW in establishing Giants Netball and helping to drive their off-court success and the positive impact they have had on netball across the State.

Most recently, Rob has conducted an independent review of the funding and delivery of community sport in Auckland, New Zealand, run two Manu Samoa rugby matches, including a RWC 2023 qualifier versus Tonga, consulted to XV Capital Advisory, performed a strategy and governance refresh for GainLine Analytics and assisted New Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs form a commercial collaboration arrangement.

Along the way Rob has also been involved with sports marketing, talent management and event businesses SponsorCom (GroupM), Esportif and SuperFoiler GP and was privileged to spend more than three years on the boards of each of Surfing NSW and SportNSW.

Matt Von der Muhll

Executive
Matt Von der Muhll
Executive

Matt is a dynamic and results driven executive with a specialisation in early stage ventures. His pioneering experience in emerging digital and technology sectors both in Australia and internationally has seen him responsible for leading successful initiatives in M&A, strategy, corporate development, joint ventures and business growth and expansion.

With over 15 years of experience in core regions of APAC, US and UK, Matt has held leadership positions from Founder to C-Suite at innovation technology companies like Unlockd, SpotXchange and Adconion. Matt is Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Place Capital, Executive Director, VP Commercial & Corp Dev at Track160, Director APAC at Respondology.

His passion for digital and technological innovation is what drives him to deliver value adding results for his customers that achieve growth, drive cultural change and have a positive impact on people.

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors, made up of industry leaders from sport, financial services, and technology, actively shapes our vision. With their vast experience and dedication, they ensure XV remains at the industry's forefront.
James Godfrey
Chief Executive Officer & Founding Partner

James represented Australian Schools, U21’s and Barbarians, before transitioning into the business of sport in 1997, joining Godfrey Pembroke as GM of athletesfirst.

Post MLC’s purchase of Godfrey Pembroke, James continued to work in wealth management with Invesco Asset Management, Apsley Recruitment and Godfrey Group (founded in 2004).

From 2010, James has combined sport and financial services as a Director - SEQ Sports & Entertainment finance, Head of Sport - Newington College, GM - Foundation at NSW Rugby, CEO - Loyals Rugby, Consultant – 2031/2033 USA Rugby World Cup Bid and Founding Partner at XV Capital.

He sits on various private and not for profit Boards including XV Capital (Chairman), intaneous, Cohesion Capital and NSW Positive Rugby Foundation. He is a former Board member of the Major League Rugby and the US RWC Bid Partnership.

Stirling Mortlock
Chief Investment Officer & Founding Partner

Stirling is a former international rugby union player, known for his physicality and strong leadership. In a career spanning 15 years, Stirling earned 140 Super Rugby caps and 80 Wallaby test caps. He captained Australia from 2006-2010 and in 2012 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to rugby.

While still playing professionally, Stirling joined Citi Institutional Equities and then moved to NAB in various Wealth Management and Institutional roles. After 10 years of corporate life, Stirling transitioned into a boutique Advisory firm specialising in Alternate Investments (predominantly technology), servicing UHNW Advisors and Family Offices.

In 2019, Stirling attended the Japan RWC, sparking his interest in combining his love of sport with his expertise in technology and financial services. He subsequently consulted to the 2031/2033 USA Rugby World Cup Bid, and founded XV Capital in 2020 with ex-teammate James Godfrey.

Stirling sits on various private and not for profit Boards including XV Capital, Sportable Australia, GAINLINE Analytics, Cohesion Capital (Chairman) and The Rugby Club Foundation (Treasurer & Chair of the IC). He is a former Board member of the Melbourne Rebels, the Rugby Union Players Association and the US RWC Bid Partnership.

John James

John James is the Managing Director of Vanguard Institutional Investor Group based in Malvern, Pennsylvania in the USA. John has been a member of Vanguard’s global executive team since 2016. John has spent 15 years at Vanguard and has also led both Vanguard Australia based in Melbourne and Vanguard Europe/UK based in London before his current role.

Prior to joining Vanguard John was the CEO of the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL and was CEO designate as Port Adelaide won its first AFL premiership in 2004. His sporting background was in squash where he was a member of South Australian Sports Institute and represented South Australia at both a junior and senior level.

John has a MBA from Adelaide University and also has completed executive programs at both Wharton Business school and Michigan Ross school of business.

Mark Cameron

Mark Cameron is the Founder and CEO of Alyve, a Digital Transformation management consultancy who are experts in complex digital strategy and delivery and an award-winning Telstra Partner.

A leading digital transformation and emerging technology thinker, Mark is also the only Australian to be inducted into an exclusive group of specialists from around the world regarded as Certified Experience Economy Experts.

Member and contributor to the Forbes Technology Council and a regular writer and columnist on digital strategy for publications including BRW, Marketing Magazine and The Australian Financial Review. Mark is also on the advisory council for Harvard Business Review. Mark currently runs the Digital Transformation Leadership Masterclass at Deakin University’s Executive MBA program and is designing an Innovation & Entrepreneurship degree, also at Deakin.

 

In addition, Mark is a mentor in the RMIT Activator. Mark is a mentor and course designer for Academy Xi, mainly focused on strategic digital transformation. Strategic advisor to executives and board members in private businesses, ASX listed organisations, and all levels of government. Strategic advisor to the Australian Arts Council in 2020 as part of their COVID-19 Digital Recovery Strategy. Member of the AI Thinktank for NSW Government.

Angus Wilson

Angus Wilson is a Senior Managing Director of FTI Consulting Limited specialising in Corporate Finance and leading several of the FTI’s Market initiatives. 

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Angus was a Partner at KPMG Australia where Angus lead the firm’s Clients and Markets function for Deals, Tax and Legal, the firm’s Deal Advisory M&A practice for KPMG Australia and ASPAC Tax practices.  Angus has extensive tax experience in Australia, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

  

A graduate of the University of Technology with a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Angus is a member of the Taxation institute of Australia.

 

Angus is a Member of the Advisory Board of NSW Positive Rugby Foundation, Board Member of Sydney University Football Club and Board Member of NSW Country Positive Rugby Foundation.

Chris Cooper

Chris owned and operated a number of businesses in the Automotive Parts and Database management space. For over 25 years He built these businesses from concept to exit. Before moving into consulting and sitting on various boards. Now Chris is a private investor with a focus on Property and Sports Technology. 

Chris is also heavily invested in Rugby. Coaching at many levels, currently at Gordon Rugby and also sits on the Clubs Foundation Board. He is also one of the original contributors to the New South Wales Positive Rugby Foundation.

Our Advisory Panel

Liza Boston

Technology / Women’s Sport
Liza Boston
Technology / Women’s Sport

Liza leads a family office and corporate advisory business that operates at the bleeding edge of art, technology, capital, and entertainment. She motivates and leads the dreamers, the doers, and the dollars in solving the complex capital requirements of new ventures and igniting movements of change with a sharp impact and diversity lens. Boston is a serial entrepreneur, venture investor, futurist and thought leader, dedicated to reshaping the way we deploy capital in an era of rapid climate change and technological transformation. With the world teetering on the edge of climate catastrophe and the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Boston’s mission is clear: to foster innovation and ensure equitable access to capital, vital for the survival of our species.

Boston is a leading thinker in structuring alternative asset class investments, venture capital for women, and angel investing in high-growth, high-tech women-led ventures. Boston possesses a unique ability to operate both upstream and downstream, with a particular talent for innovation, product design and ethical AI deployment. Boston’s work spans startups, scale-ups, governments, and social enterprises, with an uncanny ability to intuit future trends. Boston emphasizes the importance of deploying capital to women and underrepresented founders, highlighting the transformative power of placing capital in the hands of women to reshape the future we have imagined.

Boston’s approach combines a strategic vision with a hands-on mentality, making her a pivotal figure in the fight for a sustainable and equitable future. Boston is committed to creating pathways for impactful investments and driving systemic change in how capital is deployed, ensuring that it benefits both people and the planet.

Kaz Naito
Finance

Kaz Naito most recently served as a Managing Director and the Head of Sales and Marketing for J.P.Morgan Australia and New Zealand for their Markets and Custody businesses. He also served on the Board of J.P.Morgan Securities Australia Limited. Prior to assuming this Australasian role in August 2019, Kaz was the J.P.Morgan Asia Pacific Head of Sales and Trading for the Prime Finance business based in Hong Kong. Kazuma was also a member of J.P.Morgan Global Prime Finance Management Team as well as the Asia-Pacific Sales and Marketing Management team. Prior to his 10 year career at J.P.Morgan, Kaz spent over 15 years working for Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong, London and Tokyo in their Equity Derivatives business. Kaz received a L.L.B from Keio University in Japan.

Trevor Folsom

Technology / Investor
Trevor Folsom
Technology / Investor

Trevor is one of Australia’s most active and successful angel investors and one of the most respected and influential names in the Australian tech startup ecosystem. After successfully co-founding, growing and selling his own business for over 9 figures in 2008, Trevor embarked on a practical and hands-on educational journey in Silicon Valley with some of the world’s best early stage investors. He has since made more than 100 direct investments across diverse industries and geographies, including as a seed stage investor in Canva, now valued at US$40 billion.

Elia Hill

Government / Sport
Elia Hill
Government / Sport

Rick Burton

Sport academic
Rick Burton
Sport academic
  • Former League Commissioner
  • Former CMO – U.S. Olympic Committee
  • Sports Industry Author, Columnist
  • Professor of Sports Management, Syracuse University
  • Liaison to NCAA, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
  • Sports Administration
  • Sponsorship
  • Advertising
  • Athlete Welfare
  • Education

Nick Biggin

Sport / Digital
Nick Biggin
Sport / Digital

Specialties:

> Digital/Online Strategy,

> Mobile technology,

> Sports marketing and sponsorship activation,

> Networking and relationship management,

> Stakeholder relations,

> Product innovation and development,

> ROI modelling> Business Development

Monica Bradley

Major events / ESG
Monica Bradley
Major events / ESG

Monica’s expertise accumulated over decades and across continents has its foundations in the industrial sectors of trade and logistics, followed by a decade in professional services predominantly in government reform and most recently in technology, impact investing & early-stage capital.

Monica has held leadership, sales, operations, and strategy roles in New York, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Perth, Canberra, and Brisbane.  She managed P&L to 200m, sales budgets to 500m and program budgets up to 300m.  She has deep experience in technology, machinery of government, investment funds and global food sourcing, trading & logistics.  

Monica has a fresh, practical and engaging approach to people, change and problems delivers change and transformation. She moves effortlessly from the global system change levers to the person mindset required for impactful growth.  She is generous with advice, introductions and is fulled by an ambition and optimisn for a better world.

Carl Rose

Commercial
Carl Rose
Commercial

Carl Rose is an experienced managing director and board director.

Our consultants

Building a highly Cohesive team is important to XV. We selected a team of trusted experts with shared experience both within XV and previous environments. This allows us to perform efficiently and effectively across multiple regions.

Rick Burton

Consultant - North America
Rick Burton
Consultant - North America
  • Former League Commissioner
  • Former CMO – U.S. Olympic Committee
  • Sports Industry Author, Columnist
  • Professor of Sports Management, Syracuse University
  • Liaison to NCAA, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
  • Sports Administration
  • Sponsorship
  • Advertising
  • Athlete Welfare
  • Education

Marc Stcherbina

Consultant - North America
Marc Stcherbina
Consultant - North America
  • Former representative level and 12 year professional rugby player
  • National level youth rugby coach
  • Executive leadership coach
  • Athlete welfare coach
  • Leadership workshop facilitation
  • Rugby commentator for CBS, ESPN, FOX Sports USA
  • Major League Rugby TV Show Host for FOX Sports USA
  • Media skills coach
  • Founder of Winning EQ leadership consulting
  • Emotional intelligence education
  • Same Here Global Mental Health Alliance

Josh Philpot

Consultant - UK/Europe
Josh Philpot
Consultant - UK/Europe
  • Board Member – AFL Europe
  • Sports administration
  • Coaching/ coach education
  • Commercial consultant
  • Sponsorship
  • Sport, entertainment, and venue consultant
  • Digital, data, and technology consultant
  • Startups and scale ups
  • Investment

Leverage our expertise and access.