CSM Sport & Entertainment has named Richard Petty Motorsports Chief Revenue Officer SEAN DOWNES Senior VP/Business Development, a role that will mainly see him focus on selling motorsports. Downes fills the role vacated by now-IndyCar team exec TOM KNOX, who left to join Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in June. Downes will be charged with examining whether CSM can help with new opportunities for any current brands in motorsports and in attracting new brands who are not currently invested in motorsports marketing. Downes, who was previously charged with bringing in new business to RPM, will still be heavily involved in trying to bring deals to the NASCAR space on top of working in other series. CSM North America CEO JEFF SHIFRIN said that he is particularly bullish on finding marketing deals in F1 and Formula E. Downes, whose former stops include Octagon, NASCAR, MSG and RPM sister company Medallion Sports & Entertainment, starts next Monday and will continue to be based in N.Y. He also will travel often to CSM Motorsports’ HQ in Indianapolis and fellow motorsports-heavy CSM agency JHE’s HQ in Charlotte. Shifrin, who used to work with Downes during their time at Octagon, said, “He’s very well respected, had great references from the racing side and Madison Square Garden; he understands the business from the property side, team side, agency side … and he’s a proven new business development guy.” No search firm was used in making the hire.
