NFL Names Activision Exec Tim Ellis New CMO, Replacing Dawn Hudson

The NFL named Activision Blizzard’s TIM ELLIS its new CMO, replacing DAWN HUDSON, who departed in March. He joins the NFL after seven years in the same role at Activision. At the NFL, Ellis will report to COO MARYANN TURCKE. In his new role, effective Sept. 17, Ellis is responsible for the league's marketing, and will oversee research, content development, consumer engagement, advertising, promotions, marketing operations and branding. Since Hudson left, marketing has been overseen on an interim basis by Exec VP/Int’l MARK WALLER (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer). AD AGE's E.J. Schultz noted Hudson's approach recently was to "use the league's marketing budget to focus on the action between the lines, and less so on the controversies outside of the game." Ellis previously "held marketing executive positions at Volkswagen of America and Volvo" (ADAGE.com, 8/27).