IndyCar yesterday shook up its marketing and communications department by consolidating the two groups into one and hiring motorsports PR veteran MIKE ZIZZO as its new VP/Communications. Zizzo, the former Texas Motor Speedway exec who has been serving as a consultant to IndyCar President JAY FRYE, takes over the role formerly held by CURT CAVIN, who joined IndyCar in ’16 after a decades-long run covering the series for the Indianapolis Star. Cavin will now move to Senior Manager of Digital Content, while PR staffers KATE GUERRA and ARNI SRIBHEN will continue in similar roles. IndyCar also hired former NASCAR Senior Dir of Content KATE DAVIS for the newly created role of Dir of Communications. Leaving IndyCar’s PR/editorial staff as part of the moves are CATHY KIGHTLINGER, PAT CAPORALI, MARK ROBINSON and COLBY REDMOND. Meanwhile, sources say IndyCar is also out in the market looking for a new agency of record for its marketing, which is now being overseen by SJ LUEDTKE, who joined the series in February from Nike (Adam Stern, THE DAILY).
EXECS: Endeavor named former NBA Dir of Marketing & Player Program Communications BARRY PARASRAM Dir of Communications, where he will cover sports for the agency (THE DAILY)....Wasserman promoted Managing Partner ELIZABETH LINDSEY to President/Brands & Properties (Wasserman)....NBCUniversal Media named NFL VP/Labor Relations BROOK GARDINER to the same position (NBCUniversal).
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