Mark Dyer is leaving IMG after more than eight years, during which he worked on everything from the emerging college business to Danica Patrick’s entry to NASCAR.
Dyer, 59, known by his friends as a serial entrepreneur, largely was responsible for finding new business opportunities, first at IMG and more recently at IMG College. His last title was senior vice president, business ventures.
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Some of those ventures, like the ticketing and seating businesses at IMG College, enjoyed significant growth, while others, like a new North American racing series, never got off the ground. But it was that drive to create new opportunities that always powered him and his role at IMG.
Dyer’s next move will be something like that, a new business that he most likely will own and develop. What that is remains to be seen.
“It was a great run at IMG,” said Dyer, a resident of the Dallas area and a competitive triathlete. “You’re talking about the greatest brand known to sports marketing. But I really look forward to forming my own business again.”
IMG College President Tim Pernetti said in a statement: “We are grateful for Mark’s contributions to IMG College and we wish him all the best.”
Dyer, a former NASCAR executive, was hired away from Motorsports Authentics in 2009 by former IMG Sports & Entertainment President George Pyne, also a former NASCAR executive. Dyer moved over to the college division in January 2011 to oversee ancillary businesses, which became business ventures.
In the first full year of the ticket sales and marketing business, IMG College brought on 11 new college clients and turned a profit. Later, IMG and Learfield formed a joint venture — IMG Learfield Ticketing Solutions — bringing the two collegiate marketing rivals together in an unlikely union. It now has 36 schools under contract, as well as some non-college clients.
In Dyer’s absence, his responsibilities will be divided among Pernetti and Dan Barrett, vice president, sales and business development. Barrett will oversee 5.0 Communications, IMG Seating and select multimedia rights relationships. Rob Sine will continue as president of the ticketing business.
