Phil Batty OBE

Phil is Chief Executive Officer of the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company, responsible for delivering the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games next summer. Phil brings extensive experience of leading major projects and large-scale events across culture, sport, heritage and place-making. He has been at the heart of some of the UK’s most ground-breaking events over the last decade.

Prior to Glasgow, Phil was CEO of SKYMAGIC, a world-leading drone light show business, where he worked internationally to deliver global shows and events across four continents.

At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Phil led the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, watched by a global audience of millions in 2022 and organised the late Queen’s Baton Relay throughout the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth during the global pandemic.

Phil managed the strategic campaigns and marketing for the first-ever London Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest, and was Chief Operating Officer of the WOW Foundation, overseeing the expansion of a programme of global festivals in 65 countries worldwide. He has an outstanding track record of realising the social impact from events, having been Director of Public Engagement for the £32m Hull UK City of Culture in 2017. In this role Phil led the marketing, place-making, and education initiatives for a 365-day artistic programme in Hull.

He is Vice Chair of the Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 Board of Trustees and services as a Board member of Spirit of 2012, the London Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Funder.

Phil was awarded an OBE in December 2022 as part of HM The King’s Inaugural New Year Honours for services to sport and culture.