RICHARD BRANSON's gain is the N.Y. Road Runners’ loss. MARY WITTENBERG, the veteran President & CEO of the group that operates the TCS N.Y. Marathon, will resign Monday after 10 years to lead the newly launched Virgin Sport. The new outfit will operate running, cycling and other events, augmented by “training and social opportunities” for customers, according to a statement. Wittenberg will lead the company from N.Y., but its programming will launch initially in the U.K. before a planned expansion -- including via acquisition -- into the U.S., Australia and South Africa. Wittenberg’s top deputies will succeed her in a split leadership role at the NYRR, Chair GEORGE HIRSCH said. NYRR COO MICHAEL CAPIRASO, the former NFL VP/Marketing and Exec Creative Dir, will oversee business and marketing as President & CEO. Chief Production Officer PETER CIACCIA will become President of Events and Race Dir of the Marathon. Virgin has been looking for someone since last fall to head the new unit, which will be akin to the Dallas-based Active Network that handles registration for a variety of participation sports and events. “It is an opportunity of a lifetime to launch and lead Virgin Sport,” Wittenberg said.
PARTICIPATION AWARD: An industry source familiar with the plans said the ultimate goal of Virgin Active is to assemble the “largest participatory database in the world and build a business around it” starting in Europe. To do that, Virgin will incorporate other corporate assets, including its chain of around 300 Virgin Active health clubs in Europe, Asia, and South Africa. Wittenberg first joined NYRR in '98 and became its first female CEO in '05. Under her leadership, the group greatly expanded its schedule of events to include 50 races annually. The Marathon won the Sports Business Award for Event of the Year in '11, but also came under intense scrutiny in '12 after initially preparing to race just days after Hurricane Sandy. Wittenberg will step down after overseeing this weekend’s Airbnb Brooklyn Half.
