Executive Transactions
Last week started with the news that Anheuser-Busch sports/media potentate TONY PONTURO will exit A-B at year's end and finished with word that another well-known sports marketer, TOM FOX, is leaving Wasserman Media Group (WMG). Fox, the former sports chief at Gatorade, has been at WMG since April ‘07. He was hired to run consulting and develop new business areas for WMG, but after WMG bought GARY STEVENSON's Onsport consultancy later in '07, the role of Fox became less defined. Sources said Fox leaves WMG on good terms and with no definite plans for his next career move (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY).
AROUND THE RINGS: The USOC has reorganized its senior management structure, giving additional duties to CEO JIM SCHERR and different responsibilities to Chief of Sports Performance STEVE ROUSH and a chief of athlete & national governing body services not yet hired. Scherr will oversee all revenue departments for the USOC, including development, headed by JANINE ALFANO, and sales and marketing, led by JOHN PIERCE since RICK BURTON resigned this month as CMO. Roush will be responsible for international games, performance services and Olympic Training Centers. USOC Chief Communications Officer DARRYL SEIBEL said that "none of the changes were prompted by the organization's budget crunch" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 11/23).
A-B MOVES: A-B Dir of Int'l Sports Marketing BRUCE HUDSON is retiring from the company after 27 years. He will leave on Dec. 1. Hudson has overseen A-B's sponsorships of the Olympics, World Cup, MLS, English Premier League club Manchester United and other international partnerships (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal). Meanwhile, A-B President DAVE PEACOCK Thursday announced part of the company's new management lineup, naming VP/Brand Management KEITH LEVY VP/Marketing. A-B Exec VP/Global Industry Development & Chief Creative Officer BOB LACHKY will continue in his role (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/21).
EXECS: JON LAST, who for more than seven years has served as VP/Corporate Marketing, Research & Brand Development for Conde Nast's Golf Digest publications, is leaving the company to launch marketing research and strategy consultancy Sports & Leisure Research Group (SLRG). The new firm will service clients in similar categories and expand upon Last's previous work (SLRG)....The NBA Kings are expected to name agent JASON LEVIEN Assistant GM, as the two sides reportedly have agreed to terms on a multiyear deal. Kings G KEVIN MARTIN was among Levien's "most high-profile clientele" as an agent, though Levien now will no longer serve as an agent (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/21)....JHG Sports Marketing named BRANDON WELCH Account Exec (JHG)....Modell's Sporting Goods named Office Depot Senior Merchant ROGER KITCH VP & GMM for its sporting goods division. Kitch previously has served as Buyer for The Sports Authority (Modell's)....The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) named FleetMatics Dir of Sales JIM KRONENBERGER Dir of Sales for the series' sales & marketing team (ALMS)....Golf Digest and Golf World named RICH FIMBRES West Coast Manager for the publications, effective November 25 (Conde Nast).
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