OUR STORY

WHY Y11 EXISTS According To Founder, James Davies-Yandle

Playing elite sport, experiencing the highs of international hockey, the competitiveness, commitment to perform, teamwork, comradeship, wearing the number 11 throughout my career, lucky number 11 sent me across the planet playing against the best.

It also taught me how to deal with the lows, mental fatigue, the injuries that prevented me from the Sydney Olympics. These failures teach you more than the wins and to persevere through adversary to come out stronger. In sport, my number was 11, in business its Y11!

Understanding first hand the glory and pain of sport is essential for what I wanted to do at Y11. We invest our capital in an industry that isn’t really comfortable with the world of finance, so we try not to operate like that. We instead are passionate about sport’s role and importance for people and society. We want the sellers of sports businesses to look at Y11 as the right custodian for what they have built, and take it forward.  

At the same time, sport isn’t a normal asset class, and if not approached with empathy and EQ, will not be successful as an investment. That is why I started Y11; I think we can be that bridge. We are good at spotting unrealised value in sports assets, bringing them into our family and helping them be bigger and better businesses, using our capital, and expertise. Every asset we have bought is with an eye to grow it very significantly, as part of our family.

JAMES DAVIES-YANDLE

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

James has a background in risk management and a degree in Sport Science & Recreation Management. His experience includes commercial sports agency representation and global management of professional athletes.

NICK ANGIO

Chief Operating Officer

Nick brings over 15 years of international experience in financial services and private equity. His career includes senior roles such as Managing Director at Apex Fund Services – Middle East and Group CFO at Centaur Asset Management. A CPA with an M.Sc. in Finance from Université de Sherbrooke, he specializes in financial strategy and operational leadership.

BILL DOBSON

Chief Financial Oficer

Bill brings extensive experience in financial management, having held senior finance roles in both public and private sectors, including previous positions at California WOW Xperience Plc. Bill holds a degree from Bentley University and is based in Bangkok, Thailand, contributing to Y11's global expansion and financial performance.

AARON ZIPPER

Chief Marketing Officer

Aaron previously founded and lead an international sports marketing agency, and has 10+ years experience in brand strategy, creative direction, and marketing. He holds an International Batchelor of Science in Economics from the University of Leeds and North Carolina State University.

TIM HUNT

Chief Commercial Officer

Tim is a seasoned sports industry leader. He brings extensive experience in partnership acquisition, commercial sustainability, and data-driven decision making from roles in consultancy and board leadership. Tim also serves on the boards of Youth Sport Trust, England Lacrosse, and chairs Reading Hockey Club.