 |
EA Sports VP/Brand Marketing
Chris Erb |
In our continuing series, SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal asks top sports personalities for their thoughts, ideas, aspirations and likes. Today, EA Sports VP/Brand Marketing
CHRISTOPHER ERB.
What I like in an insight: Managing up is not as important as managing down and across.
An influential person in my career: My parents, who taught me the value of hard work and honesty.
An out-of-the-box idea: Netflix completely changed the rental market and then cannibalized its own business with streaming. Don't be afraid to change the model.
A timeless idea: Listening to your customers.
A business deal: In this current economic climate, it's all about partnerships and collaboration. Finding the right partner and driving both businesses together.
A sports facility: Yankee Stadium.
A sports event: The Super Bowl.
A strategy: Quality and focus. Do fewer things better.
A hire: ALEX FERGUSON.
A brand: Nike. Constantly impressed with their endless ability to "edit and amplify."
A trend: Social media. It is changing everything ... for the moment.
An innovation: Consuming digital content.
A pro league or team business initiative: The NFL expanding overseas with regular-season games. Is the Super Bowl next?
A story that bears watching: Upcoming potential NFL and NBA work stoppages.
An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: Monetization of Twitter.
A fantasy job: BRIAN CASHMAN's!
What I like about my job: The opportunity to connect with EA Sports consumers on a daily basis and see their tireless passion for the brand.
Sports: The ability of sports to bring entire communities together. Nothing else can galvanize a city, state or country like sports.
Sports business: Its permanency.
Sports media: ESPN's "30 for 30" series. A great idea, executed well.
Sports technology: No other entertainment industry sets the pace for technology like sports does.
Competing: The constant, relentless drive to be the best.
Sports fans: Their pure passion and loyalty.
What I would like to change in what I do: Less time working and more time playing "FIFA 11."
See: An NBA team return to Seattle.
See more of in sports: Washington Husky victories.
See less of in sports business: Personal seat licenses. Average fans are being priced out.
See different: Same thing as everyone else -- a playoff in college football.
Eliminate: The current BCS system.
What I don't like in general: People who don't put in the effort.
Pet peeve: Negativity.
In sports: Potential work stoppages.
In business: E-mails. What happened to picking up the phone?
About sports fans: Over-consumption.
What I like in people: Faith and loyalty.
That would surprise those who know me: I was a batboy for the Seattle Mariners for six years.
Above all else: Health and family.
Heroes: My wife for delivering our twin boys last year. She is an inspiration.
Players: DEREK JETER, KEN GRIFFEY JR.
Team: Washington Huskies.
City: Seattle.
Possession: My TV and DirecTV subscription.
Memento: Game-used, signed baseball by Derek Jeter from his Major League debut in Seattle.
Time of year (because): Christmas break. Nothing means more than time with family.
Music: Changes daily.
Books: Mostly business or biographies ... if I am not learning, I would rather be doing something else.
Author: MALCOLM GLADWELL.
Magazine: Fast Company.
Websites: Twitter (@ChrisErb) and Facebook.
Gadgets: My Xbox 360 and iPad.
iPad app: MLB.com At Bat.
Movies: Anything by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN.
TV: "The First 48" on A&E.
Concerts: Patiently waiting for the upcoming Soundgarden tour.
Artist: FRANK MILLER and MARC ECKO.
Food: Italian.
Dessert: Chocolate mousse.
Drink: Unsweet iced tea ... by the gallon ... from Chick-fil-A.
Vacation spot: Paris.
Singer: EDDIE VEDDER.
Quote: "Well done is better than well said" -- BEN FRANKLIN.
