POD Corporation has launched a partnership with Excel Sports Management, a major U.S. sports agency representing numerous professional athletes in golf, baseball, basketball, American football, and more.

On February 3, 2023, Tokyo-based POD Corporation announced the launch of an exclusive marketing partnership in Japan with Excel Sports Management, a leading U.S. sports agency headquartered in New York.

This partnership aims to support Excel Sports Management’s global clientele in the Japanese market through integrated marketing, sponsorship activation, athlete representation, event production, and public relations. POD Corporation will serve as the exclusive contact point for all local engagements, beginning with the promotional and media support of professional golfer Keita Nakajima.

About Excel Sports Management
As one of the world’s top sports agencies, Excel Sports Management represents numerous elite athletes across golf, baseball, basketball, American football, boxing, and more. Its clients include global icons such as Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, and Peyton Manning, as well as rising stars like Keita Nakajima, who turned professional after holding the No.1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for a record-setting 83 consecutive weeks.

● Selected Clients:
Golf
Justin Thomas
Collin Morikawa

MLB
Derek Jeter (Hall of Famer, retired)
Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals)
Dansby Swanson (Chicago Cubs)
George Springer (Toronto Blue Jays)

NBA
Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)
Russell Westbrook (Los Angeles Lakers)

NFL
Joe Montana (Hall of Famer, retired)
Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Boxing
Canelo Álvarez (Undisputed World Champion – WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO)

others

Partnership Scope
Through this collaboration, POD Corporation will act as the comprehensive gateway for Excel’s athletes and talents in Japan, providing marketing, media, and commercial representation services. The partnership aligns with POD Corporation’s mission of “bringing social impact into everyday life” and furthers its commitment to supporting athletes and sports as tools for international engagement and cultural enrichment.

◯ Statements from Excel Sports Management
Mark Steinberg, Managing Partner
“We are excited to work with POD Corporation to amplify Excel Sports Management and our work in the Japanese market. POD Corporation’s incredible network and specialized knowledge make this partnership ideal as we look to create new opportunities for our clients to build their personal brands on a global scale.”

Casey Close, Managing Partner
“Japan is home to some of the most passionate sports fans, especially in baseball. POD Corporation will help us bring our roster even closer to that fandom by growing client profiles through a variety of channels including marketing, endorsements, and PR.”

Athlete Spotlight: 
Keita Nakajima
A standout in the global golf scene, Keita Nakajima first gained prominence by winning the 2018 Australian Amateur Championship and an individual gold medal at the Asian Games. In 2021, he captured both the Japan Amateur and Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships. He has won professional-level events including the Panasonic Open while still an amateur and held the No.1 World Amateur ranking for 83 consecutive weeks, earning the Mark H. McCormack Medal twice—a historic first. He turned pro in September 2022.

About Excel Sports Management
Website: excelsm.com
With offices in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and London, Excel Sports Management represents elite athletes, talents, and brands across the global sports landscape. The firm has twice won the “Best Talent Representation and Management” award from Sports Business Journal and is consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the most valuable sports agencies in the world.

Comment from POD Corporation – Tetsuya Shiokawa
“In an era where Japan must rebuild stronger global ties, our partnership with Excel Sports Management brings powerful international influence to the Japanese market. Supporting global stars like Keita Nakajima, and fostering opportunities for Japanese and international athletes to compete abroad, perfectly aligns with POD Corporation’s mission. We are honored to contribute to Japan’s global engagement through sports.”

PR TIMES link