50 Most Influential: No. 9 — Bob Bowman

President of Business and Media

Major League Baseball

CHANGE FROM 2015: +15

MLBAM’s BAMTech subsidiary represents the top-of-the-page headline for Bowman’s 2016. He oversaw a market-shifting $1 billion deal with the Walt Disney Co. to invest in the operation, followed by a partnership with Discovery Communications to expand into Europe. Bowman also shook up MLB’s licensing business, completing a new deal with Fanatics and Under Armour to produce UA-branded on-field jerseys beginning in 2020.