COLORADO SPRINGS, USA // Phil Andrews was appointed USA Fencing CEO in August 2022, and oversees the national governing body (NGB) for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of fencing in the United States, becoming the only active CEO of an NGB to be named to Sports Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list in 2024.
Andrews has developed a global reputation embodying “It can be done” spirit including the reform of international organizations, delivering historic agreements for Women’s sport, developing operational plans across different continents.
In his role, Andrews is responsible for the growth and development of fencing with newcomers, collegiate athletes, Olympians, Paralympians, and everyone who connects with the sport of fencing. He leads the business operations, culture transformation, revenue generation, and member safety for USA Fencing, along with direction and oversight on more than 400 fencing events each year.
Since taking the helm, Andrews has been instrumental in guiding USA Fencing’s historic growth, including forming a seven-figure partnership program with Hilton, Avis, Bank of America, Naked Wines, Campari, Avenues, Fusion and other well-known brands; changing the culture of the organization and sport; unveiling new membership products that have resulted in a nearly 20% increase in total memberships; and creating a dynamic CEO Advisory Group to fuel the continued growth of the sport.
Additionally, Andrews has launched a series of DEI initiatives at USA Fencing, including a Refurbishment program to make equipment more affordable, a Women’s Mentorship program, a series of Cultural Community Forums, and the GRACE Program offering financial relief for fencers. The GRACE Program received the 2023 USOPC Large NGB Diversity & Inclusion Award.
Prior to joining USA Fencing, Andrews served as the CEO of USA Weightlifting for nearly 10 years where he transformed the sport’s culture, built the sport to be a Women’s majority sport, including an historic funding agreement for women. instituted new governance reform, attracted record participation, and secured unprecedented sponsorship and fundraising levels.
In 2020, along with leading USA Weightlifting, he took on the interim crisis leadership role of the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) becoming the only person in the sport’s history to oversee the International Federation and NGB at the same time, in the process earning a worldwide reputation in sports integrity.
Before USA Weightlifting, Andrews worked for the Coventry Blaze, a British professional ice hockey team competing in the Elite Ice Hockey League, that won back-to-back championships while he was there. During his career, he has had additional roles with Basingstoke Bison, Unite Group PLC, David Lloyd Leisure, and the University of East London.
Andrews currently sits on the board of the Sports Event & Tourism Association and Visit Salt Lake, and has been named to various USOPC, USADA and U.S. Center for SafeSport leadership groups.
Andrews grew up in England, and has triple citizenship (U.K., U.S., Canada). He currently resides in Denver CO with his wife and young daughter.