This week in the sports media and marketing ecosystem, Brian Westbrook joins SeventySix Capital as an investor, the NFL names Christopher Halprin Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, and Comcast Spectator hires a former Washington Nationals exec to lead its business operations.
For job openings and more on who’s moving where, check out the Hashtag Sports Weekly roundup.
The NFL has named Christopher Halpin executive vice president and chief strategy & growth officer. Halpin has been with the league since 2013, starting as VP of Media Strategy and Business Development. In the new role, Halpin will quarterback the NFL’s strategy, particularly as it relates to growth and development opportunities, including international initiatives as well as data and analytics.
SeventySix Capital has announced that former Philadelphia Eagles star running back Brian Westbrook is joining the tech venture fund’s Athlete Venture Group as an investor. Westbrook is now partner of a growing team that’s led by Ryan Howard, and also includes former star athletes DeMarco Murray and Ralph Sampson. The Athlete Venture Group is quickly becoming a go-to platform for players seeking to learn and make investments with seasoned venture capitalists. Westbrook will work hands-on with the sports tech fund whose portfolio includes Whistle Sports, VSiN and more.
Evan Spiegel and Snap Inc. have named Julie Henderson the company’s new chief communications officer. Henderson currently serves as 21st Century Fox’s EVP and Chief Communications Officer, a role she’s held since 2012 (during a time the company was known as News Corp before its media business split off) and will begin her new role with Snapchat as soon as the sale of Fox’s assets to Disney has been finalized. Henderson will assume the responsibilities previously held by the Vice President of Communications, Mary Ritti, who announced that she was leaving last summer. Henderson will lead global communications for the company, reporting directly to Spiegel.
Comcast Spectacor (subsidiary of Comcast), the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Flyers, Wells Fargo Center and other regional sports properties, announced the hiring of Valerie Camillo. In the new role, she will head business operations for the Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center, in addition to managing relationships with Xfinity Live, the 76ers and other properties affiliated with the arena, effectively making her the company’s highest-ranking female exec. Camillo’s professional sports experience spans from SVP of Team Marketing and Business Operations (TMBO) at the NBA to most recently serving as the Washington Nationals’ chief revenue and marketing officer.
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