Executive Transactions

John Galloway Joining Gatorade As VP/Marketing

In this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Terry Lefton reports PepsiCo's Izze Beverage Co. VP & GM JOHN GALLOWAY will become Gatorade VP/Marketing. Galloway, Pepsi's "top sports marketer from 2001 to 2006," has worked for Izze since '06, when Pepsi acquired the brand. Lefton notes Galloway's move to Gatorade is "intriguing," as both Pepsi and Gatorade "run strong, but independent, sports marketing departments." Galloway has worked for PepsiCo since '95, and given his "close ties to Pepsi," this move "could portend a closer bond between two brands that each have links to some of the biggest sports properties" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/7 issue).

NBA Taps Bryan Perez As NBA Digital Senior VP & GM

NBA MEDIA: The NBA has hired Live Nation Global Digital CEO BRYAN PEREZ for the newly created position of NBA Digital Senior VP & GM.  Perez will oversee day-to-day operations for NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass and the league's broadband and wireless businesses. Perez, who will be based in Atlanta and will report to Turner Sports President DAVID LEVY and NBA Deputy Commissioner ADAM SILVER, also will oversee WNBA.com and NBADLeague.com. While at Live Nation, Perez was responsible for the company's Internet, wireless, ticketing and IT strategy. Perez previously has worked for Clear Channel Entertainment, the Stars and Hicks Sports Group, and MSG (NBA). In this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, John Ourand notes the hiring concludes a "six-month search process that looked to fill one of the top openings in sports media." Levy said that Perez' "first order of business will be to hire staff, ranging from producers and directors to marketers and business development executives"  (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/7 issue).

EXECS: In a separate piece in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Lefton reports MLB has promoted Senior VP/Advertising & Marketing JACQUELINE PARKES to CMO, the league's first person to hold that position. Parkes, who joined MLB in '95, will continue to oversee the league's advertising, marketing, promotions, research, community relations and educational programming. Parkes will report to MLB Exec VP/Business TIM BROSNAN (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/7 issue)....Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has hired Kurt Schwartzkopf as CMO of the Avalanche and Nuggets. Schwartzkopf formerly worked for FELD Entertainment, where he oversaw sales, PR and marketing in the Western U.S. and Western Canada. Prior to that he was with AEG as VP/Sales & Marketing for the NHL Kings and Staples Center (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).