Our leadership | Barney Francis

Barney’s career at Sky extends over twenty years. Barney recently took up the newly created role of CEO, Future Sports in June 2019, where he will focus on the changing world of sport and our place in it, working with colleagues across both Sky and NBCU to look at global opportunities for growth for the benefit of the whole of Comcast.

Barney was Managing Director, Sky Sports from 2009-19. During that time Sky Sports grew from 5 channels to 11, adding such Premium sports events as Formula 1, the Masters, The Open and the NBA to Sky Sports' portfolio, while also increasing the number of Premier League matches shown on Sky to 126 from 2016-17 in the face of stiff market competition.

Barney also oversaw continued technological innovation at Sky with developments in 3D, Ultra HD, virtual reality, and the expansive and ever-growing digital, social and online presence of Sky Sports which regularly reaches 35m unique users per month.

Alongside this, Sky has added further support to sport at all levels through its partnerships with cycling, the support to youth through Sky Sports Living for Sport, and the level of investment across the board that helps governing bodies from English Cricket, English Football League to England Netball grow participation and interest.

Barney has worked in television for over two decades, within multi-channel, terrestrial, and independent sectors. Prior to becoming Managing Director at Sky Sports, he was Executive Producer for Football and Cricket producing a range of live coverage, support programming and sport news content. Production credits include the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, the ICC Cricket World Cup and Test cricket.