The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) has appointed Jonathan Rigby as its new Secretary General effective 1 February 2026, bringing over 25 years of experience across international sport, commercial strategy, and brand development.
Rigby’s experience includes holding senior leadership roles with several prominent global sports organizations. As Head of Marketing at Manchester United from 2010 to 2015, he oversaw more than 45 global partners at a time when the club doubled its commercial revenue. At British Cycling, he devised a new commercial growth strategy, led the transformative HSBC UK partnership, and negotiated broadcast agreements with BBC, ITV, and Eurosport. He also drove innovation with the first ever Zwift eSports National Championships. Furthermore, he served as Commercial & Marketing Director for the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships, creating the brand identity and helping the team to secure Lidl as a headline sponsor. Since 2022, Rigby has advised CEOs and Boards across established and emerging sports on visibility, audience engagement, and commercial growth. He holds a BA (Hons) in Marketing from the University of Stirling and resides near Manchester in the UK.
“We are really excited to bring Jonathan into this key position at WFDF at a critical juncture in our development,” stated Robert “Nob” Rauch, WFDF President. “We believe that Flying Disc sports have grown to a point where it is now imperative to further develop our fan and spectator base and strike appropriate partnerships to take advantage of and support the growth possibilities. Jonathan brings a significant track record of success in commercial development and a lifetime of commitment to developing sport properties, and his appointment will greatly assist us in completing the transition to ‘WFDF 3.0’ under our 2024-2028 strategic plan.”
Jonathan Rigby commented: “Frisbee sports are growing fast. They offer something rare in the world of sport — a community built on fairness and spirit, paired with game formats that are visually compelling and ideal for today’s digital world. That combination creates significant visibility and commercial opportunity, and I’m excited to help WFDF unlock it on a global scale.”
WFDF had engaged Odgers out of London and New York to support the global search process. Their Sports, Media and Entertainment Practice operates across more than 60 offices worldwide. The recruitment attracted candidates from across international sport, the commercial sector, and the Olympic ecosystem, with over 250 candidates vetted.
Rigby succeeds Volker Bernardi who had passed away after a brief illness in August, after serving the federation with distinction for 15 years.
About WFDF:
The World Flying Disc Federation (“WFDF”) is the international sports federation responsible for world governance of flying disc (frisbee) sports, including Ultimate, Beach Ultimate, Disc Golf, Freestyle, Guts, and Individual Events. WFDF is comprised of member associations that represent Flying Disc sports and their athletes in more than 122 countries. WFDF is an International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the International University Sports Federation (FISU). It is a member of the International World Games Association (IWGA), the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), and the Association for the International Sport for All (TAFISA). WFDF is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, and is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in the state of Colorado, USA.
For more information contact:
Robert “Nob” Rauch
WFDF President
World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
email: [email protected]