Hussain Naqi, based in London, was has been the Jaguars’ senior vice president of international development since October 2015. He oversees the Jaguars’ brand development and sponsorship sales efforts in the United Kingdom, and is also responsible for driving synergies between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club, which share common ownership under Shad Khan.
Among the U.K.-based initiatives Naqi oversees are Union Jax, Jaguars Academy, Jaguars Coaching Academy, Jaguars Se7ens Cup, JagTag, Gridiron Grants, Reward Rows and University Scholarship.
Before moving to London, Naqi served in Jacksonville as senior vice president of fan engagement, responsible for oversight of the Jaguars game day operations, in-stadium operations, and non-NFL event business. The Jaguars unveiled the two largest video boards in the world in the 2014-15 NFL season, and Naqi was responsible for the programming, activation and content development of those as well as the spa pools on the north deck when these new game day elements were added, which resulted in a number-one overall fan experience ranking in the NFL as voted upon by season ticket members in the league’s Voice of the Fan.
Naqi arrived in Jacksonville in 2013 following four years with the New Meadowlands Stadium Company in East Rutherford, N.J., where he served as vice president of business planning and general counsel at MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Jets and New York Giants.
Naqi began his career in the sports industry in 1997 with the law firm of Covington and Burling in Washington, D.C., which led to a four-year stint with the National Football League, working in the league’s Management Council. After leaving the NFL in 2002, Naqi was named assistant director of enforcement for the NCAA.
Naqi attended Cornell University, earning his bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations in 1997. In 2003, he returned to school to complete a joint Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration degree at Northwestern University. While at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, he developed a continuing education program for current and former NFL players to equip them with basic business skills during and after their playing careers.
Upon graduation, Naqi joined the Executive Development Program with Major League Baseball and the New York Mets, serving two years in that capacity. He is a member of the New York State Bar.
