Veteran NBA exec RACHEL JACOBSON is leaving her job as SVP, global partnerships on June 30. Jacobson, who joined the NBA in '96 as part of the league's first management training program, is leaving to explore other opportunities. Her replacement has not yet been named. "I've had an extraordinary opportunity at the NBA to learn from DAVID STERN, ADAM SILVER and MARK TATUM coming up from the training program and spending time in so many areas to now overseeing our global business development team," Jacobson said. "What is driving this is just personal ambition to try something new and be up for a new challenge. I'll be a free agent on July 1 and want to keep an open mind." Jacobson, a '10 SBJ/SBD "Forty Under 40" winner, has played a key role in some of the league's biggest sponsorship deals, including Pepsi, ExxonMobil, Under Armour, Kaiser Permanente and Harman. Jacobson becomes the second senior NBA exec-level departure in recent weeks. Last month, EVP, Global Partnerships EMILIO COLLINS left the league to join Excel Sports Management. His position also has yet to be filled.
