BEST Forms Partnership With Conglomerate Lagardere Unlimited
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
Blue Equity Sports Television (BEST), as expected, formally announced today that KEN MEYERSON, agent to top American men’s tennis player ANDY RODDICK, has mutually agreed to separate and that BEST had formed a strategic partnership with French conglomerate Lagardere Unlimited. BEST in a statement said that Roddick, who has "developed a close and personal relationship with Lagardere group’s Chairman and CEO, ARNAUD LAGARDERE, will join Meyerson at Lagardere Unlimited in a sharing arrangement with BEST Tennis.” Also as part of the agreement, BEST will work with Lagardere on projects, including producing tennis events in the U.S. The deal comes after Meyerson repeatedly told SportsBusiness Journal that he was not leaving BEST over the last several weeks. Speculation about a deal between Lagardere and BEST has been rampant in the tennis industry for months. Meyerson could not immediately be reached for comment. Roddick has an existing endorsement deal with Lagardere in which he wears the company’s logo on a patch on his shirt. Under the terms of the deal, JOHN TOBIAS, a rising tennis agent who counts MARDY FISH and BOB and MIKE BRYAN as clients, will be promoted to the position of BEST Tennis President.
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