Adidas Exec Chris Grancio Joins Ron Burkle's Independent Sports & Entertainment

Independent Sports & Entertainment has hired adidas GM of Global Basketball CHRIS GRANCIO as CMO, the "first major move for the recently relaunched agency," according to Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Grancio will be based out of L.A. and started yesterday. He will report to ISE CEO & President HANK RATNER. Grancio in '13 was named to SBJ/SBD's "Forty Under 40" list. He will also "serve as a senior director of the company." Among the areas ISE is "eying for expansion are digital media, content, corporate hospitality, corporate consulting and live events." At adidas, Grancio was "responsible for all aspects of the basketball category, including product creation, merchandising, grassroots events, negotiating endorsement contracts and managing the 11-year outfitting partnership with the NBA that will end after this season" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/19 issue).