One of Major League Soccer’s top sponsorship executives is leaving the league.
David Wright, senior vice president of global sponsorship, will depart after 15 years with MLS. His last official day will be Aug. 7, but Wright said he will continue to consult on some MLS projects.
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“I’ve grown up with MLS and [Soccer United Marketing], and I am who I am because of my 15 years here,” said Wright, a SportsBusiness Journal/Daily Forty Under 40 honoree in 2012. “Our commercial side is in great shape. I just decided it was time to do something else. The timing just seemed right.”
Wright started at MLS in 2000 out of the University of Massachusetts sports management graduate program. He began his career as manager of fan development, switching over to corporate sponsorship sales in 2005. He was named senior vice president of global sponsorship in 2011.
Gary Stevenson, MLS Business Ventures president and managing director, said that Wright’s replacement will likely come from within. He said any reorganization will help underscore his plan to sell across broad marketing platforms such as the recent Heineken Rivalry Week effort.
The MLS/SUM sales and service group totals around 20, but Stevenson said “we’ll be adding more in partnership marketing and service people, because both sides are growing.”
Wright reported directly to Stevenson.
Industry chatter has Wright heading to work for an NBA team, but he said that he had no firm plans other than spending time with his family.
He said the growth of the game is what has stood out over his term at the league.
“The World Cup last year and the success of the Women’s [World Cup] team this year jump out,” Wright said. “But building soccer overall and being part of the movement to do that is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
