IMG is restructuring its business to create a single IMG Events & Media division that will bring together the formerly separate divisions of IMG Events & Federations, IMG Media and all events in IMG's fashion golf and tennis operations. The company on Monday announced the restructuring in an internal memo to staff. The IMG Events & Media group will be led by Chair MICHEL MASQUELIER, President IORIS FRANCINI and Chief Business Officer SAM ZUSSMAN. Masquelier formerly served as president of IMG Media; Francini served as head of worldwide sales & acquisitions at IMG Media; and Zussman served as managing director of IMG Performance, which includes IMG Academy. The trio will report to WME and IMG co-CEOs ARI EMANUEL and PATRICK WHITESELL. Emanuel is more involved in the IMG Events & Media business while Whitesell is more involved in the IMG College and client representation businesses. IMG owns and manages a host of events, including more than five major tennis competitions, 37 pro golf tournaments and more than 15 fashion shows. The move to bring all of IMG’s events into a single division had been anticipated since WME bought IMG for $2.4B late last year. At the time, sources said that WME saw an opportunity to cut operating costs by bringing all the event management operations together and eliminating unnecessary overlap in staff. It also saw an opportunity to improve sales revenue by pitching existing and potential sponsors on multiple events. Masquelier, Francini and Zussman will work with a senior management team that includes Global Head of Motorsports ROB ARMSTRONG; IMG Media Finance Dir DUNCAN FAY; IMG Golf Head of Business Development ROBBIE HENCHMAN; Global Head of Golf GUY KINNINGS; and Global Head of Tennis FERNANDO SOLER.
