MARK SHAPIRO and IORIS FRANCINI will be co-Presidents of WME-IMG, the company announced today. Shapiro, who is based in N.Y., and London-based Francini, will oversee media, college, events, fashion, Miss Universe, IMG Academy, global partnerships, content, PBR and other divisions, as well as the new China subsidiary. The UFC operates separately, although many of the WME-IMG divisions, such as global partnerships, original content and media, will work with the property. Both co-Presidents will report to co-CEOs ARI EMANUEL and PATRICK WHITESELL. Previously, Shapiro was Chief Content Officer, and Francini had been President of IMG Media. Shapiro spent 12 years at ESPN before moving in '06 to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and later Dick Clark Productions before joining WME-IMG in '14. Francini has been with IMG since '03. The transition represents a shift within IMG College, where JASON LUBLIN had been serving as President, in addition to his role as WME-IMG Global COO. As planned, Lublin will step away from the day-to-day IMG College business while continuing as Global COO.
