Board of Directors Profiles

• 

  Flavio Augusto da Silva

  Owner Chairman
  Flavio got his start back in 1995 aged 21, with a $10,000 loan and a single idea; to teach fluent English to adults in 18 months. 18 years later, Wise Up now has over 400 schools operating in five countries, and is an official sponsor of the 2014 World Cup.

   

  Earlier this year, his businesses were acquired by Abril Educação, one of Latin Americas largest and most influential media companies. Today, Mr. da Silva still leads the Wise Up Group and is also the third largest shareholder in Abril Educação. As part of the acquisition, Mr. da Silva will oversee the development of Abril Educação operations around the world.

   

  Da Silva's goal is to bring an MLS franchise to Central Florida by 2015, making Orlando City SC the preeminent brand in Major League Soccer.
• 

  Phil Rawlins

  Founder President
  Phil Rawlins is Founder & President of Orlando City SC, responsible for all aspects of the Club’s operation, performance and service.

   

  A native of Stoke-on-Trent, UK, Rawlins founded and developed OnTarget, a highly successful sales and marketing consultancy which worked with most of the world’s leading technology companies.  In addition to his tech experience, Rawlins spent over fifteen years in sports management as an owner and director of his hometown English Premier League team, Stoke City FC.

   

  Rawlins was voted Orlando’s Downtowner of the Year in 2013 for his work in helping develop downtown, and he was honored by MBA Orlando (LGBT Chamber of Commerce) as Community Champion 2014.  He serves on the Board of Directors for CANVS, a non-profit technology and entrepreneurial co-working space located at the Church Street Exchange and is on the Board of the Central Florida Sports Commission.
• 

  Alex Leitão

  Owner Board Member
  Alex Leitão, 41, is the owner and president of sports marketing agency Octagon Brazil, part of Octagon Worldwide – the largest global sports and entertainment agency with 72 offices and more than 1,000 employees worldwide.

   

  Prior to starting Octagon Brazil, he spent 10 years with AB InBev, the largest brewery in the world, holding various roles in the Marketing Department.

   

  Leitão is a recognized expert in strategic planning, helping organizations leverage premier sporting events to maxmize brand exposure, sales and business development. He has managed relationships between various companies and globally recognized sports properties such as the Brazilian National Soccer Team, soccer superstar Kaká, IOC, and FIFA.  

   

  Since 2001, he has successfully led projects for the following major sporting events:

  • FIFA World Cup: 2002; 2006; 2010; 2014

  • FIFA Confederations Cup: 2001; 2005; 2009; 2013

  • Copa America: 2001; 2004; 2007; 2011

   

  Leitão holds degree in business administration from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, with specialization in Marketing from University of California Riverside.

   
• 

  Brett Lashbrook

  Chief Operating Officer

  Brett Lashbrook joined Orlando City Soccer Club in June 2013 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer.  Prior to moving to Orlando, Brett worked at Major League Soccer as Legal Counsel and then Special Assistant to the Commissioner’s Office. 

  Before joining Major League Soccer, Brett worked for a variety of sports properties including the 1999 & 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cups, 2000 Summer Olympics, Women’s United Soccer Association and NYC2012 (New York City’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics). 

  Originally from Kansas City, Brett holds an undergrad degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Marquette University.

• 

  John Bonner

  Owner

  An engineering graduate, John moved to Florida in 2004 after a successful business career initially in the UK amusement and gaming industry then later as a venture capitalist.

  Now a US citizen, John currently resides in the Dr. Phillips area and came to the US to further the interests of his various UK companies. He has achieved this successfully whilst also helping his partner Bobby Moore create the widely acclaimed Big Fin Seafood Kitchen restaurant concept in the Dellagio on Sand Lake Road.

  A lifetime soccer fan and fervent supporter of twice European champions Nottingham Forest, John is delighted to be involved with Orlando City. “I firmly believe soccer has a great future in the USA and particularly here in Orlando. I’m really looking forward to working with everyone concerned to hopefully bring some more sporting success to Central Florida.”