Executive Search for a Global CEO

MitchelLake successfully partnered with Catapult Sports International (ASX:CAT) to execute an executive search for a global CEO, a search that culminated in the appointment of Will Lopes. The role demanded a commercially minded, globally experienced Chief Executive Officer to lead international operations, leverage product credibility, drive revenue growth, and position the company for its next phase of scale. Operating across the US, Australia, and the UK, Catapult’s CEO oversees teams in technology, sales, customer support, marketing, and administration, with over 4,600 teams across more than 100 countries now depending on its solutions.

Appointment & Mandate

In November 2019, Will Lopes was appointed CEO following a targeted global executive search. Lopes, previously Chief Revenue Officer at Audible, was selected for his track record in growth leadership and his ability to unite commercial, product, and operational functions under one vision. He relocated to lead Catapult from its Boston office, taking charge of a global workforce and directing efforts to unify product lines, scale sales, and build recurring revenue models.

Performance Update & Business Trajectory

Since the CEO appointment, Catapult Sports has shown marked improvement in key growth and financial metrics. In FY2025, Catapult delivered revenue growth of 19% year-over-year, reaching approximately US$116.5 million. The company narrowed its net loss from US$19.1 million to US$8.56 million, demonstrating progress toward profitability. Capital Brief+1

Annualized Contract Value (ACV): a key metric in SaaS companies, rose by ~18%, surpassing US$100 million for the first time. ACV retention remained high, and churn has been low, reinforcing stability. Incremental profit margins for new revenue were strong: Catapult is retaining 65 cents in every new dollar of revenue generated, a sign of efficient scaling. Capital Brief+1

The business has also expanded its customer base: in FY25 it added nearly 400 teams year-over-year, now working with 4,600+ teams across more than 40 sports in 100+ countries. Catapult’s product innovations continue; for example, the Vector 8 system was launched to bring faster, broader, higher-fidelity wearable monitoring to teams, especially in American Football and other major sports. 

Strategic Focus & Vision Going Forward

Under Lopes’s leadership, Catapult’s roadmap is centred on balancing growth with profitability, the “Rule of 40” metric (growth rate + profit margin) is being used as a north star. Catapult achieved a Rule of 40 score of ~31% in FY25, combining ~18% growth in ACV and ~13% EBITDA margin. AInvest+1 The company has reaffirmed its FY26 guidance: it expects strong ACV growth with low churn, further margin improvements, and higher free cash flow as scale efficiencies kick in.

Partner With MitchelLake

MitchelLake remains committed to enabling fast-growing global businesses to secure top-level leadership. If your venture is looking to commission an executive search for a global CEO, whether for sports tech or other high-growth arenas, our experience with Catapult shows what’s possible when the right leader meets a clear vision. 

MitchelLake has delivered hundreds of international leadership placements across sports technology, AI, data, and transformation ventures. Contact us to discuss your next executive search for global CEO or other C-suite and board leadership roles in fast-growth technology ventures.