USA Fencing
Phil Andrews jokes that he’s the souvenir Team USA brought back from London. But more than a decade on from those Games, the USA Fencing CEO has made himself a mainstay in the movement.
Andrews first connected with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee while working at the University of East London at the 2012 Summer Games. That connection helped him get to USA Weightlifting, where he was promoted to CEO after two years leading events and programs.
Phil Andrews
Chief Executive Officer, USA Fencing
Age: 37
Born: London
Education: Sheffield Hallam University, business modeling and management
Family: Spouse, Jessica; child, Renesmae (5 months)
What my friends/family think I do all day: Run a circus seems to be the consensus. More seriously, most people think I’m a coach, which I clearly am not!
Cause supported: Boarding for Breast Cancer.
App I use most: Probably Slack! But recommend Todoist for productivity.
First social media platform I signed up for: Facebook, back in 2007.
Social media platform I use/follow most today: LinkedIn.
People in sports business I’d most like to meet: Jessica Berman, Nick Khan, Ari Emanuel.
Most pivotal decision in my career: Making a phone call that started it all to Hockey Stars for Hope, and then several years later, the move to the USA.
Most pressing issue facing my generation is … : Understanding the next one!
The promotion followed a trend for Andrews, who has taken roles redirecting organizations that find themselves in need of change. Just 28 when he took over, Andrews relied on his experience at hockey clubs in the U.K. to start building.
“I was feeling my way around and figuring it out,” he said. “I’m not afraid to go around and ask somebody, ‘How did you do this?’”
That approach worked, with Andrews capitalizing on the popularity of CrossFit, expanding and restructuring events and helping triple the membership from 9,000 to 30,000 before COVID.
After the pandemic and nine years at weightlifting, he heard from USA Fencing, seeking new leadership.
Andrews focused on rebuilding trust with the membership and ironing out governance issues and processes. In almost two years there, he’s revitalized the business.
Andrews has focused on sponsorship, adding Hilton most recently as the NGB’s sixth new sponsor this year.
He told USA Fencing he’d stay for a maximum of six years, through LA28. While he doesn’t know what his next job might look like, it’s one that will call on the skills he’s strengthened working in the movement.
“I’m good at problem solving,” he said. “I’m good at crisis and I’m good at growing out of those things.” — Rachel Axon
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