David Bond, a former BBC sports editor who has spent the past two years as a director leading the sports practice at Freuds, has been appointed director of strategic communications at the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
He will start his new role at the IFR, an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, at the start of next year. It will be Bond’s first ever in-house comms job. His team will be responsible for strategic communications and media handling, stakeholder coordination and club familiarisation and all digital channels.
He spent almost 20 years working as a reporter and editor for the likes of the FT, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times and Evening Standard covering football, politics and business. Bond also spent several years as BBC sports editor.
Prior to Freuds, which he joined in April 2023, his only comms job had been a near two-year stint as a director at strategic comms agency Milltown Partners.
In his new role he will report to CEO Richard Monks, who announced the appointment last week, saying that Bond would bring over 25 years of experience in communications and journalism and has “the right mix of skills and knowledge to help us shape our story”.
Monks added: “Communicating clearly and transparently to clubs, their fans, and the wider industry will be essential if we are to be a truly effective regulator for English men’s football.”
The IFR was created as a result of the Football Governance Act 2025. It is tasked with protecting and promoting the sustainability of English football as well as safeguarding the sport’s heritage. Monks continued: “David will lead a comprehensive communications strategy for the IFR as we prepare for key activities in 2026: the State of the Game Report, the completion of our public consultations and the roll out of our new licensing system for regulated clubs which, in time, will provide the crucial early warning signs for those facing serious financial risk.”
Bond told In.Comms: “This is an incredible opportunity to play a part in shaping and telling the story of the world’s first ever independent regulator at a critical moment for the English game.”