Dan Merkley appointed CEO of Phygital International; David Feng named Interim Chairman of the World Phygital Community in move to deepen international engagement and advance the future of phygital sport.
Dubai and Hong Kong: As the global phygital movement enters its next phase of international expansion, Dan Merkley has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Phygital International, the exclusive rights holder and custodian of the Games of the Future (GOTF), and David Feng has been named Interim Chairman of the World Phygital Community (WPC), the governing body for phygital sport.
Effective immediately, the appointments reflect the continued evolution of the phygital sports movement following the successful delivery of the Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi and ahead of the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Dan Merkley appointed new CEO of Phygital International
Merkley succeeds Nis Hatt, who has led Phygital International through a successful period of growth and institutional development. Hatt will remain close to the phygital movement.
A highly respected international sports executive from Salt Lake City, with more than two decades of experience delivering major global sporting events, Merkley brings extensive expertise in sports governance, strategic development, stakeholder engagement and international ecosystem building. He most recently served as Chairman and Managing Director of the World Phygital Community (WPC), where he played a pivotal role in establishing the foundations of the global phygital movement, helping expand membership to more than 115 countries and strengthening the international network of phygital stakeholders.
In his new role, Merkley will lead Phygital International’s long-term strategic agenda, with a focus on scaling the global phygital sports ecosystem, deepening strategic partnerships, and further establishing the Games of the Future as a premier global sports and entertainment platform at the intersection of sport, technology, and culture. This includes overseeing the ongoing bidding process for future editions of the Games beyond 2026, driving host-city engagement and long-term growth, and accelerating the development of new phygital disciplines through the expansion of PI’s Phygital Lab.
Talking about his move to CEO of Phygital International, Dan Merkley commented: “I am honored to be appointed CEO of Phygital International at such an important moment for both the organization and the broader phygital movement. There is every reason to be optimistic about the evolution of sport, as more people around the world connect, compete and pursue healthier, more active lifestyles through the integration of physical and digital experiences. The remarkable growth of the phygital movement shows this vision is resonating globally. The insights I have gained working closely with the WPC membership will be invaluable as Phygital International enters its next phase of growth, strengthening the global ecosystem and accelerating the adoption of phygital sport worldwide.”
David Feng appointed as new Interim Chairman of the World Phygital Community
As part of this leadership transition, David Feng will assume the role of Interim Chairman of the World Phygital Community, succeeding Merkley.
An entrepreneur and international sports executive with more than 25 years of experience in Olympic and global sports governance, event marketing, event management, hospitality, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships, Feng has worked extensively with the International Olympic Committee, Local Organizing Committees, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, governments and leading global brands associated with the Olympic Movement. David brings more than two decades of experience delivering world-class sporting events and building partnerships across the global sports ecosystem, combining entrepreneurial leadership with extensive international relationship management and cross-cultural expertise.
As a member of the WPC Advisory Board, Feng has contributed to the organization’s strategic development and will now lead its next phase of growth, focusing on strengthening governance, expanding member engagement, building strategic partnerships and creating greater value for members while supporting the continued global growth of phygital sport.
Commenting on his appointment as Interim Chairman of the World Phygital Community, David Feng said: “I am honored to be appointed Interim Chairman of the World Phygital Community at such an exciting stage in its development. The future of sport will not be built by one organization alone. It will be built by a global community working together. I would also like to acknowledge Dan Merkley for his outstanding leadership in building the World Phygital Community, and I look forward to working closely with him in our respective roles. My priority is to strengthen our members, expand partnerships, and ensure WPC continues to provide an open, trusted and collaborative platform for the growth of phygital sport worldwide.”
Together, these appointments reinforce the continued evolution of the Phygital sporting ecosystem as it accelerates global expansion, strengthens international collaboration and advances its mission to shape the future of sport through the integration of physical and digital competition.
About Phygital International (PI):
Phygital International is the promoter of phygital sports globally and is focused on innovating and redefining sports. It is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city.
About the World Phygital Community (WPC):
The World Phygital Community is a non-profit, international organization that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital members globally. It is responsible for providing guardianship of the rules and regulations of phygital sport and hosting ranking tournaments for the Games of the Future.
About the Games of the Future (GOTF):
The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in Abu Dhabi while the Games of the Future 2026, will be held in Astana.
