Gérard Akindès PhD

Gerard Akindes is a multifaceted professional whose career spans sports, academia, and management. His background as an athlete, coach, sportswear company manager, scholar, and researcher gives him a unique perspective on the sports industry.

Athletic and Coaching Experience

Gerard Akindes’s athletic accomplishments include serving as captain of the Benin national basketball team and competing at the semi-professional level. Transitioning into coaching, he led the women's Belgian basketball team Union-Féminin Quaregnon, mentored youth basketball programs, and acted as an assistant coach for the men’s professional team Union Mons-Hainaut.

Management Roles

His managerial skills were honed over four years as an assistant manager at Forcing SPRL, a sportswear company based in Mons, Belgium. Additionally, Akindes contributed to sports research and insight as the senior insight and research manager for the Josoor Institute, a legacy initiative of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where he served for six years.

Academic Qualifications and Teaching

Dr. Akindes holds a Licence in Economics and Social Sciences from the University of Mons-Hainaut, a Master’s degree in Sports Administration, and a Ph.D. in Sports Media Studies from Ohio University. At Ohio University’s College of Business, he taught Sports Management, further solidifying his expertise in the academic field.

Research and Publications

Gerard Akindes’s research interests center on international sports management, the sports economy, television broadcasting, and athlete migration. He is the co-editor of two books—Identity and Nation in African Football: Fans, Communities and Clubs and Sports in Africa, Past and Present. His scholarly output also includes several journal articles and conference presentations. Notably, he co-created the SportsAfrica conference, with the 17th edition held in Abidjan in April 2025, in collaboration with INJS.

Current Roles and Consulting

Akindes currently serves as adjunct faculty at Northwestern University in Qatar, New York University in New York, and Chengdu Sport University in China. He continues to contribute to the sports industry as an independent researcher and sports management consultant, advising FIBA and other sports governing bodies.