S. Vlad Marinescu

Vlad Marinescu is an international sports executive whose work focuses on building connections across traditional sport and esports. Born in Romania, raised in the United States, and now living in Hungary, he brings more than 20 years of experience working with athletes, federations, and organizations across 150 countries. He is President of the International Esports Federation (IESF), a role he was re-elected to in 2025, and formerly served as Director General of the International Judo Federation (IJF).

Marinescu’s career spans sports administration, event organization, media, marketing, and digital transformation. At the IJF, he helped modernize the organization and expand judo’s international events and broadcasts. He also served as General Director of SportAccord and founded RSportz, which provides IT solutions to help federations and organizations digitize competitions and fan engagement. As a leader and speaker, he contributes to discussions on sport governance, esports development, and international collaboration. A former seven-time American karate champion and Junior Olympic water polo champion, he holds a degree from Oxford Brookes University and an honorary doctorate from the United States Sports Academy.