Kevin Roberts, a well-known figure in sports industry conferences, has died suddenly at the age of 61 ©Host City

Kevin Roberts, a popular and regular figure at sports industry conferences around the world for many years, has died suddenly at the age of 61.

The news was announced by the SportBusiness Group, where he was the founding editor and group editorial director.

“We speak for everyone at SportBusiness Group when we say we are devastated by the sudden loss of Kevin,” Riccardo Silva and Marco Auletta of SportBusiness owner Silva International said.

“He was fundamental to the success of the editorial team and his legacy is the dynamism of our subscription products.

“But more than anything we will miss his wonderful sense of humour, energy and passion for sport.”

Several tributes were also posted to Roberts on social media, including from Brian Lewis, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, who had invited Roberts to be the guest speaker at a sports industry conference he had organised in 2016.

“A wonderful human being with a generous spirit,” Lewis wrote on Twitter.

“Our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

“Rest in Peace Kevin.”

Among the events that Roberts was involved in was the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, the International Herald Tribune - now International New York Times - Sports Summit and the Sportel Monaco conference, who sent their condolences to his family via Twitter.

“It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Kevin Roberts, talented speaker, long time partner of SPORTEL,” they said in a message.

Roberts had been a key member of the team that launched the first sports industry subscription title, SportBusiness International, in 1996 and had played a vital role in the evolution of the publication over the course of its 24-year history.

He edited the SportBusiness International print publication and oversaw a popular series of industry conferences.

Roberts stepped down from this position to become a freelance communications consultant, but still wrote features and a regular column for SportBusiness.

He returned to the company full-time in 2019 as group editorial director, where he led the launch of the SportBusiness Decision Makers conference series and helped launch a new website.

Prior to working for the SportBusiness Group, he was head of communications at the London-based agency CPMA, where he worked on events including the Rugby World Cup, World Student Games and Bells Scottish Open Golf Championship.