Alberto Verme

I work on commercial growth across sport, entertainment and technology. My career has taken me from building a football advisory and talent management business to investing in early-stage companies and leading sales and strategic partnerships at Sportable.

I founded AAVL Group in 2019, building a seven-person team and representing footballers across professional and academy football. Working closely with players, families and clubs taught me how to earn trust, handle sensitive negotiations and take responsibility for the work behind every decision.

I first became involved with Sportable as a pre-seed investor and Strategic Adviser to the CEO before moving into a full-time operating role. I now lead sales and strategic partnerships for football, with a focus on international growth. The work involves understanding what clubs, leagues, federations and what apparel brands actually need, then building partnerships that create clear value for the people using the technology.

Surrey gave me the foundation to turn an interest in entrepreneurship into something practical. I graduated with a 2:1 in Business Management with Entrepreneurship and have remained connected to the university by mentoring students and early-stage founders. In 2024, I was invited to join the inaugural SurreyLeaders cohort in recognition of my professional achievements as an alumnus.

I later completed an MSt in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge with First Class Honours. My major research project received a Distinction (75/100) and examined how personal branding can give female footballers greater control over their commercial careers.

Outside work, Atlético de Madrid is less a football club and more a way of life, with the Cleveland Cavaliers not far behind. Otherwise, you will usually catch me training for the next half marathon, raising funds for causes including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.