sam maller
In his position as vice president of client sales and business development at Excel Sports Management, David Oxfeld’s job is to sell nonendemic sponsorships for all athletes, throughout the agency, as well as work on other sales.
He negotiated endorsement deals with Beats by Dre for NFL quarterback Marcus Mariota last year and for NFL draft prospect Deshaun Watson this year. In recent years, Oxfeld negotiated NBA player Kevin Love’s deal with State Farm, golfer Justin Thomas’ deal with Citi, and race car driver Danica Patrick’s deal with Advance America. He also has negotiated deals for retired Yankee Derek Jeter’s publishing company. In four years, he has negotiated 120 deals for 60 different clients.
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He was hired in 2012, after founder and prominent NBA player agent Jeff Schwartz brought on his longtime friends, powerful MLB agent Casey Close and Mark Steinberg, agent to Tiger Woods, to make Excel a multisport agency. Alan Zucker, who specializes in talent marketing for a host of star clients including Eli and Peyton Manning, also joined Excel as a partner and is now Oxfeld’s boss.
“I’m a resource that the agency offers,” Oxfeld said. “I am an endorsement seller for all of our clients. If I am working on something for Derek Jeter, then I am working with Casey. If I am working on something for Kevin Love, then I’m working with Jeff. If I am working on something for Marcus Mariota, then I’m working with Alan.”
Many sales executives are great at sales but not providing solutions, but Oxfeld does both, Zucker said. Many sports marketing people concentrate on one sport, but Oxfeld has expertise across sports. Oxfeld, he said, understands different platforms, including signage, radio, television, web, social and literary partnerships.
“I don’t know a lot of people who understand all facets of this business who is 36 or 37 years old,” Zucker said. “And everybody likes him.”
— Liz Mullen
david oxfeld
excel sports management |
vice president of client sales and business development
Age: 36
Where born: South Orange, N.J.
Education: University of Michigan (B.A., sports management)
Family: Wife, Alana; child, Spencer (1)
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at age 20: Life — including your professional career — is a marathon, not a sprint.
Profession other than your own you’d most like to attempt: Acting or a lawyer.
Foundation supported: PAX/Brady Foundation (anti-gun violence).
Guilty pleasure: New York Post.
Person in the industry you’d most like to meet: Adam Silver.
I am one of the best I know at … : Remembering names (specifically in business though).
2017 will be a good year if … : We all figure out how to get along.
The sports industry needs to do a better job of … : Listening to fans, understanding place/purpose in society, not taking itself too seriously.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I’ve ever done is … : Become a father.
You’d be surprised to know that I … : Am tech illiterate and color blind.
