A week before ESPN is slated to lay off more than 100 staffers as part of company-wide cost-cutting moves, the company parted ways with one of its top ad sales execs. Exec VP/Global Advertising Revenue & Sales Operations ERIC JOHNSON has left ESPN, ending a tenure that started in '99, but an ESPN source said Johnson's move is not part of the coming layoffs. Johnson, who reported to President/Global Sales & Marketing ED ERHARDT, oversaw global ad sales for ESPN’s TV, print, digital media, audio and syndication. Johnson will remain an advisor to Erhardt for an undetermined amount of time, but it is not clear what Johnson’s next step will be. Johnson did not return a text message, and ESPN would not comment (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
EXECS: GSW Esports LLC -- which is owned and operated by the Warriors -- named Yahoo Esports Head of Operations HUNTER LEIGH to the same position. He will report to Warriors Assistant GM KIRK LACOB (Warriors)....USL club Sacramento Republic FC Dir of Football GRAHAM SMITH has resigned. Smith has "been with the club since its inception" in '14 (SACBEE.com, 11/20)....The Philadelphia-based Int'l Association of Golf Administrators named Utah Golf Association Exec Dir BILL WALKER to the same position (DESERETNEWS.com, 11/20).
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