US Ski & Snowboarding has hired veteran Olympics sponsorship salesman Michael O’Conor as its CRO. O’Conor worked in the marketing division at the USOPC from '04-18. He fills out the two-man team USS CEO Tiger Shaw has recruited to replace departing Chief Commercial Officer Dan Barnett, who is leaving after more than two years. O’Conor will handle all sales relationships and business developments for the governing body, while CMO Andy McKeon oversees all marketing, communications, social media strategy and partner activations. "I’m thrilled to death about our new team. … We’re reconfigured into a killer combination,” Shaw said.
Prior to Barnett, USS had a CMO handling media and sponsorship sales, but communications and digital content were lower priorities. Now, Shaw said both positions report to him and are top-level concerns. O’Conor will start Sept. 23, based in Park City. Roughly a year ago, he left the USOPC to join the sales joint venture with LA28. He said he would spend his first few months “listening” as he develops a sales strategy. McKeon, a longtime recreational skier and snowboarder, called USS a dream job. “It’s a fun challenge to wrap my head around,” he said. “We want to help support the athletes, and keep this sport front of mind for everyone.”
