Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka is leaving IMG to found her own sports agency. Osaka and her longtime agent Stuart Duguid have officially launched their athlete management company, EVOLVE.
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According to initial reports, EVOLVE will cover brand partnerships, investing, creating athlete-owned businesses, and philanthropy. This marks the second venture between Osaka and Duguid following 2021’s KINLÒ skincare line. Osaka says EVOLVE wishes to empower athletes to control their destiny, serving as true partners, vocal advocates, and culture shifters rather than ambassadors for hire.
“I’ve spent my career doing things my way. Even when people told me that it wasn’t what was expected or traditional. EVOLVE is the natural next step in my journey as both an athlete and businesswoman, as well as a way to continue being myself and doing things my way.”
Osaka and Duguid will each have an equity stake in EVOLVE and invest in businesses together. Duguid kept initial details regarding clientele under wraps. However, he noted, “it would be only athletes who transcend their sports; or those with the potential to do so.”
In the previous seven years of their partnership, Osaka and Duguid inked big deals with Nike, Louis Vuitton, Mastercard, Levi’s, Sweetgreen, and FTX.
As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on Naomi Osaka’s latest venture in the comments section below! Lastly, in case you missed it, Nuggets Star Nikola Jokic Wins Second Straight MVP Award.
