NBA Exec VP/Global Marketing Partnerships EMILIO COLLINS, the league’s top sales exec, is leaving the league in April after 15 years to join Excel Sports Management as Chief Business Officer. "I’ve wanted to do something more entrepreneurial for a while and take the work I’ve done with brands, and apply it across a broader array of businesses," said Collins. “It’s hard to leave the NBA, but this just felt like the perfect time to go help build something with a company (Excel) that I really respect." Excel Founder & President JEFF SCHWARTZ said Collins will help expand the company’s corporate consulting business and lead a foray into third-party sales representation. Current Excel corporate consulting clients include HSS, Porsche and Morgan Stanley. “The corporate consulting space is competitive, but we believe in what we’ve done there so far and we believe in Emilio’s ability to grow that business,” said Schwartz. “His relationships with brands should also benefit our athlete clients, and his experience and leadership will benefit Excel as a whole.’’ Collins joined the NBA in '01 after five years with Integrated Sports Int'l and SFX Sports, which acquired ISI. “Emilio is one of the best, most experienced, and respected sponsorship executives in our business," said NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO MARK TATUM. “So we’re sorry to see him go, but happy he’ll be in the family with Jeff Schwartz and Excel.’’ While Tatum added that there were no immediate plans to name a successor to Collins, in-house candidates will certainly include 20-year league veteran and current Senior VP/Business Development RACHEL JACOBSON; Senior VP/Global Marketing Partnerships KERRY TATLOCK, who has been with the league since '05; and Senior VP/Team Marketing & Business Operations BRANDON SNOW.
