This week in the sports media and marketing ecosystem, Endeavor hires new Director of Social Media, ESPN secures First Take host fill-in, and the National Lacrosse League names former NHL exec as Deputy Commissioner and EVP.
For job openings and more on who’s moving where, check out the Hashtag Sports Weekly roundup.
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a new professional league featuring 12 club teams across Africa, announced John Manyo-Plange as its new Vice President & Head of Strategy and Operations. Manyo-Plange will bring more than 20 years of experience working in the NBA’s global operations and management where he previously served as the NBA Africa Head of Business Operations. He will look to continue the growth of the African basketball community in his new role, in preparation for the BAL season which is scheduled to begin play March 2020.
The Ringer, the pop culture and sports website and podcast network, promoted Mallory Rubin to Editor and Chief and Sean Finnessey to Chief Content Officer. Both Rubin and Finnessey have been with the company since it launched in 2016. Previously, Rubin was Executive Editor and Finnessey was Editor in Chief for the company. Both will look to continue to grow the company’s podcast network, a major driver for The Ringer’s business.
Adena Jones announced on Twitter, that she is joining Endeavor as the new Director of Social Media. Jones brings years of experience developing successful social media strategies and digital activations by creating engaging content. She previously worked as the Director of Content Operations at SoulCycle and as a Deputy Managing Editor for Bleacher Report.
Tim Connolly, who joined Quibi last year as Head of Partnerships and Advertising, is leaving the mobile TV subscription startup, eight months before its April 2020 debut. Connolly had been in charge of business relationships with all partners including subscriber-acquisition partners, advertisers and agencies, tech partners, and promotional partners. Connolly’s position was eliminated, and Quibi does not plan to hire a replacement, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Rosalyn Gold-Onwude announced on Twitter that she is joining ESPN, and filling in for Molly Querim as the new host of First Take for a series of shows through August and September. Prior to joining ESPN, Gold-Onwude brings years of experience working as a sideline reporter for Turner Sports’ NBA and college basketball coverage. Turner Sports had decided not to renew her contract, making her a media free agent.
BTN has named Jack Brown as its new Vice President of Advertising Sales. In his role, Brown will be responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to the BTN sales team. Brown previously served as Vice President of Network and Digital Sales at NBCUniversal, where he managed a national sales team and led Telemundo’s advertising efforts which included properties such as the NFL, FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.
The National Lacrosse League (NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse league in the world, announced Jessica Berman as its new Deputy Commissioner and EVP of Business Affairs. Berman joins after 13 years of experience as an executive at the National Hockey League, where she served as the VP of Community Development, Culture & Growth. She will oversee all of the league’s legal affairs and transactions, manage team services, and assist the Commissioner with the NLL’s overall growth strategy. The hire makes Berman the first female to hold that title for a professional men’s sports league in North America.
Mark Burns announced on Twitter that his last day at the Morning Consult would be August, 30. As a senior sports business reporter for the Morning Consult, Burns produced data-driven content, industry analysis, and trend pieces surrounding sports business. Burns will release his future plans after Labor Day.
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