Theo Frixou

  • Doctoral researcher within the Institute for Sport Business

Profile

Theo is a doctoral researcher at the Institute for Sport Business.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Bath, and Master of Science degree in Sport Marketing from the University of Loughborough.

Academic background

While completing his Master’s, Theo focused his thesis on designing a conceptual framework to evaluate the sustainability efforts of commercial sponsors in sports, which led to a studentship offer for PhD research at Loughborough University. He has gained wide-ranging experience across professional football (Watford FC), healthcare (University College London Hospitals Trust), and sport marketing (CSM and Wasserman). Theo is passionate about the positive impact of sport on society, but he stresses the importance of ensuring that these benefits are realized within the context of a fair and sustainable world.

Theo is a member of Loughborough University London’s research and innovation hubs ‘Climate and Ecological Transitions’, ‘Policy, Sport and Geopolitics in an Unstable World’ and a member of SCAN (Sport for Climate Action and Nature).

PhD research

Theo is a Social Science PhD candidate researching the intersection of sport and environmental sustainability. His PhD titled ‘Fossil Fuel Sport Sponsorship: An Exploration into Legitimacy’ focuses on the multi-level institutional legitimacy of fossil fuel sponsorship in sports, driven by concerns for the natural environment and its societal impact. His research integrates insights from various disciplines, including Energy Humanities, Sport Sociology, Management, and Political Science.