MSG Exec VP/Revenue Performance GREG ECONOMOU will be leaving the company at the end of this week. Economou joined the company in '11, but in an email, told colleagues it is the "right time to transition and the process has been as mutual and fair as possible." He added, "The Garden is an incredible place and I am most appreciative, thankful, and proud that I was able to contribute to the incredible success of the company over the past three years.” There were no details as to his next endeavor (THE DAILY).
MOVING AROUND 30 ROCK: NBC Sports Group VP/Communications
ADAM FREIFELD will be taking a new position in June as NBCUniversal VP/Internal Communications. Freifeld joined NBC in '06 as a PR consultant for the newly-established NBCSports.com and was hired full-time as Dir of Communications in September '07. Freifeld told THE DAILY, "While I have thoroughly enjoyed my 26-year run in the sports industry, including the last seven at NBC Sports, where I worked with the most talented people on the biggest events in sports media, I am excited about this new chapter in my career. Though I will miss my daily interaction with the sports-media press … mostly” (
THE DAILY).
RACING TO DIVERSITY: ISC named SONIA MARIA GREEN and LARRY WOODARD to its BOD (ISC). Company execs have “made no secret of their desire to diversify NASCAR’s fan base by attracting younger fans and minorities, in part through increased use of social media marketing efforts.” The addition of Green and Woodard “could help the company in accomplishing those goals.” ISC BOD member HYATT BROWN, who chaired the committee that nominated Green and Woodard, said that he believes the pair “are the first Hispanic and African-American to be named to the board.” Brown said that “both were chosen, not because of their ethnicity but rather for their strong business backgrounds and expertise in advertising and marketing” (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 4/11).
BAY MAN: Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, parent company for the Lightning, AFL Storm and Tampa Bay Times Forum, named JIM SHIMBERG Exec VP & General Counsel, beginning May 1 (TBS&E). He will “oversee all legal matters for the organization” as well as Owner JEFFREY VINIK’s “outside real estate interests.” Shimberg “brings a close working relationship with city officials” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/11).
EXECS: SiriusXM named Liberty Media CEO GREG MAFFEI Chair. The company also named Discovery Communications CEO DAVID ZASLAV and Liberty Media BOD member EVAN MALONE to its BOD (N.Y. POST, 4/11)….Sony Computer Entertainment America named former ESPN Associate Marketing Manager for Digital Media ANDREW WAMUGI Account Manager for Strategic Business Development within the Video Services Group (THE DAILY).
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