MLB President of Business & Media BOB BOWMAN is relinquishing his role running the day-to-day operations of MLBAM’s BAMTech subsidiary, and a formal search process is now underway for a lead exec to oversee that unit. MLBAM has retained global executive search firm Egon Zehnder to find a CEO, and interviews in that process have already started. Bowman will retain his position overseeing MLBAM and MLB’s revenue-generating operations. The exec shift has been contemplated for many months in the wake of last summer’s equity deal in which the Disney acquired a third of BAMTech for $1B. The ongoing search process was initially reported by Bloomberg. MLBAM confirmed the retention of Egon Zehnder and said BAMTech needs its own dedicated exec team. There is not a specific timetable for the selection of the BAMTech CEO, and Bowman will remain on the company’s BOD. BAMTech has rapidly built a large collection of top-tier clients and partners, including Discovery Communications, WWE, HBO, Sony and the PGA Tour, among others (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). BLOOMBERG NEWS' Scott Soshnick cited a source as saying that Bowman "decided to step down." There is "no specific date for a leadership changeover" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/13). In N.Y., Claire Atkinson notes the move "caught many by surprise." One source close to Bowman said he will be "happier sitting in a permanent MLB job than working for what will be a subsidiary of Disney." Sources said that a "handful of names" have been floated for the post, including ESPN Exec VP/Digital & Print Media JOHN KOSNER (N.Y. POST, 12/14).
