# Jeff Dodds

Jeffrey (Jeff) Dodds (born December 1973) is a British business executive and the current chief executive officer of Formula E. He took over the role in June 2023, having previously worked as the chief operating officer for Virgin Media O2 from May 2017.
His other roles have included group marketing director for Callaway, chief marketing officer for Virgin Media and CEO at Tele2.
Under Dodds’ leadership, Formula E has achieved record revenues and launched new races across Asia.
He has also been a non-executive director for the UK Government and is the current chair of disability advocacy group, The Valuable 500.

### Early Life and Education

Born into a working-class family in 1973 in Kent, Dodds went to school at the Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone. Achieving a Masters of Business Degree in 2002 from Westminster Business School, Dodds later became a Master of Science in International Marketing Management in 2008, achieved at Robert Gordon University’s Aberdeen Business School. In 2013, he would graduate in the Oxford High Performance Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford, while in 2022 he became an honoris Doctor of Business Administration at Bournemouth University.

### Executive Roles

For almost three decades, Dodds has achieved high-level success in marketing and business management across the industries of sport, automotive, media and telecommunications. Dodds’ early work saw him employed first as sales manager with Volvo Cars UK (part of Premier Automotive Group) from 1998-March 2002, before moving to Honda UK where he held a number of leadership roles up until April 2007, including heading up the company’s brand and marketing.
Dodds would leave his position with Honda to take up a new role with Callaway Golf Europe (including Odyssey, Ben Hogan, Top-Flite), operating as their group marketing director until February 2009. Here he oversaw marketing, public relations, European product development and sponsorship, whilst getting the opportunity to work closely with elite golf professionals such as Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.
After his work with Callaway, he moved to Virgin Media, initially in the position of brand and marketing director before elevating into chief marketing officer. In his almost five years with the company, Virgin Media achieved 13 consecutive quarters of revenue growth. In 2011, the company achieved a £76m profit, a turnaround from the previous annual loss of £141 million. They were also recognised as having the fastest growing brand value of any UK company in 2012.
As in his previous role, Dodds also worked closely with high-profile talent as Virgin Media increased their advertising push, working with stars including eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt. He also successfully negotiated contracts for sponsorship deals with Bolt, Mo Farah and as the main show sponsor for Britain’s Got Talent.

### Move to Netherlands

Dodds made the move in 2014 to live and work in the Netherlands as the chief executive officer and executive vice president for Tele2. In this position, he led the 2015 launch of the world’s first 4G-only mobile network, which delivered 94% coverage across the nation. In the process, he oversaw Tele2’s rise to becoming the fastest-growing mobile operator in the Netherlands.

### Return to Virgin Media O2

After two years away, Dodds returned to Virgin Media in May 2017. During 2021, Virgin Media would undergo enormous change when a landmark merger with O2 was announced, resulting in Virgin Media O2. The new organisation saw Dodds take the role of chief operating officer, where he helped deliver major companies including Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ onto the video offering for users.
He was also responsible for the 2019 launch of 1Gb consumer broadband in the UK. As the company continued to thrive, he was central to the implementation of a commitment to the British government to deliver coverage to the whole UK network by December 2021.

### Formula E

In May 2023, it was announced that Dodds was to be appointed as the new chief executive officer of Formula E, having been nominated for the role by Formula E’s lead shareholder and investor, Liberty Global. Dodds took over the position from Jamie Reigle, who departed after three-and-a-half years in the role.
During his time with the company, Dodds has overseen several new initiatives designed to grow Formula E, now largely regarded as the fastest growing motorsport and most sustainable sport in the world. Inside his first year with the company, the GEN3 Evo Race car was launched, with the capability to go from 0-60mph within 1.82 seconds, 30% faster than that of a Formula One vehicle.
Away from the track, he has also delivered significant growth for the sport. His first year saw Formula E make record revenue, while the sport has continued to reach new heights with a huge number of global broadcast partnerships signed under his leadership.
Dodds’ tenure with Formula E has seen a considerable rise in both awareness and following of the sport, with figures indicating that global awareness grew year-on-year from 18-22%. The fanbase has also increased, rising from 263 million to 374 million.
December 2024 saw Dodds and Formula E make the news after donating $250,000 to charity after Max Verstappen won the Formula One title. Initially making a promise in February 2024 to donate the fee should the Dutchman not win the title, Dodds voluntarily made the donation on behalf of Formula E whilst speaking on a virtual call with Verstappen. The money, it was decided, would be split between the Red Bull Wings for Life organisation for spinal cord research and another dedicated to raising opportunities for women in motorsport.
2025 has so far seen Dodds lead Formula E into a new sphere, as notable celebrities and royalty from across the world have formed closer links with the sport. Largely driven by the Formula E Evo Sessions series which launched in March 2025, 11 popular personalities were selected to participate in a motorsport-first opportunity, driving the GEN3 Evo car. Celebrities including Sergio Aguero, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, JUCA, Emelia Hartford, Supercar Blondie and Cleo Abram all competed in the event in Miami, whilst internet-personality Mr Beast also experienced the Gen3 Evo.
In the same month, Formula E encountered royalty as King Charles III observed the Gen3 Evo at Hampton Court Palace as part of His Majesty’s Sustainable Markets Initiative. Under Dodds stewardship, Formula E continues to incorporate and attract public personas, helping to increase the reach of the sport to wider audiences.

### Other Works

Alongside his position with Formula E, Dodds simultaneously continued his role as a non-executive director for the UK Government. This position is one he had held since 2021, as part of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Community, leaving with the change of government in 2024.
Having been a board member of disability advocacy organisation The Valuable 500 since its inception, Dodds is currently the chair having taken up the position in 2023. His work is often focused on improving equality and opportunity for the organisations he represents. Whilst in his role with Virgin Media O2, he oversaw relationships with Scope, British Paralympic Association and the Valuable 500 itself.
Between 2012 and 2019, Dodds was also a voluntary trustee and director of Dallaglio RugbyWorks, an organisation formed by Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio.

### Personal Life

Dodds lives in Berkshire with his wife Mary and has two children. Away from work, his interests include golf, driving fast things, shooting and cooking.

## Further Reading

* Jeff Dodds: the Formula E boss planning a move into pole position