Noah Garden, MLB’s CRO since 2020 and a 23-year employee of baseball, has quietly been elevated to deputy commissioner/business and media. "The commissioner and the top team behind me makes me look smarter than I am," laughed Garden. "But really, even after all these years, I feel fortunate to be working for the sport I grew up loving."
Garden has helped MLB expand sponsorships and licensing revenues to what he called record levels. Heading Garden’s agenda: solving the RSN problem, as that business model has become antiquated with the move to streaming. "Clearly, the media space is in the middle of disruption," he said. "There will be bumps in the road, but we will continue to focus on fans having access to games, regardless of their location."
With the promotion, MLB marketing and content, headed by Karin Timpone, now reports to Garden. "Putting marketing and content on the business side just seemed more effective and fits that ‘one baseball’ theme we’ve been aiming toward since the commissioner took office (in 2015)," said Garden.
Marketing had reported to MLB Chief Operations and Strategy Officer Chris Marinak, who is now devoting more time to two expanding areas: digital ticketing and MLB’s growing roster of overseas events.
Dan Halem (baseball administration and chief legal officer) is MLB’s other deputy commissioner.
Garden's promotion to MLB deputy commissioner will see him tackle league RSN issues, among other areas
