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Forty Under 40

Forty Under 40: Jamie Horowitz


Jamie Horowitz made headlines last year by convincing big-name on-air celebrities to join Fox — people like Colin Cowherd and Jason Whitlock. But it’s the hires he made behind the scenes, moves that garnered less press attention, that are likely to have just as much impact.

Horowitz brought on people like former ESPN executives Charlie Dixon from NBC and Chara-Lynn Aguiar from YouTube. He hired Chris Healey, Matt Ketaineck and Whit Albohm from ESPN.

That he convinced these executives to move to Fox runs counter to the narrative that emerged at the end of 2014, when Horowitz publicly was fired by NBC’s “Today” show after three months as the show’s general manager amid allegations he did not get along with others.

“The seven or eight brightest young people that I worked with at ESPN have now all moved with us,” said Cowherd, who came to Fox after 12 years at ESPN. “Are they all moving cross-country because Jamie doesn’t know what he’s doing? It’s not hard to figure out.”

While interviewing with Fox executives after his “Today” gig blew up, Horowitz worried that his NBC experience would hurt his chances to land a big job in the business. Those fears were eased when he met with Fox’s Chase Carey, who greeted the young executive by saying, “We’ve been reading about you. … Mr. Murdoch forwarded me the article and said, ‘This guy seems like a lot of fun.’” Since taking hold at Fox last May, Horowitz has endeavored to work with people who are able to transfer that sense of fun to the television screen.

“The process of anyone who joins a new team is to go out and acquire talent, and that’s what we’re doing,” said Horowitz, who prior to the “Today” job had spent more than seven years early in his career with NBC Sports and Olympics, followed by more than eight years with ESPN. “This has been said by many smart people before me: People are your most valuable asset. It’s both on-camera and behind the camera.”

— John Ourand

Jamie Horowitz

21st Century Fox / Fox Sports | President, Fox Sports National Networks
Age: 39
Where born: Newton, Mass.
Education: Amherst College (B.A., political science)
Family: Wife, Kara; children, Jake (7), Will (4), Cooper (1)

Advice I’d give to my younger self: As Yogi Berra said, “You can observe a lot by just watching.”
2016 will be a good year if: My kids sleep through the night.

I’d like to change jobs for a day with: The point guard for the Boston Celtics.
Groups supported: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; American Corporate Partners.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I’ve done: Resigned from the “Today” show. (Oh, never mind …)
You'd be surprised to know: I was so shy growing up my mother had to let me practice ordering a pizza so I was confident enough to call by myself.


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