Editor’s note: This story is revised from the print edition.
While Learfield awaits federal approval on its merger with IMG College, two C-level hires in recent weeks suggest the company isn’t sitting still.
Learfield brought on merger-and-acquisition executive Rob Schneider from GroupM to help identify growth opportunities, while also continuing the process of integrating the dozen acquisitions from the past few years. Schneider, who oversaw corporate development at the media company, is the chief strategy and development officer for Learfield.
CAA Executive Search identified the candidates for that position.
Learfield’s Leadership
■ Greg Brown, CEO
■ Bob Agramonte, chief business development officer
■ Jody Diaz, chief people officer
■ Bill Palen, chief communications and marketing officer
■ John Raleigh, chief legal officer
■ Andy Rawlings, chief revenue officer
■ Rob Schneider, chief strategy and development officer
■ Temple Weiss, chief administrative officer
Schneider comes aboard 10 months after the departure of Marc Jenkins, who left to become CEO at Patron Technology. Jenkins was responsible for integrating Learfield’s extended business lines, like ANC, SME Branding, GoVision and others.
Schneider is charged with managing those businesses as well, but Learfield CEO Greg Brown wants him to broaden his perspective to look for growth opportunities across the entire company.
Schneider, 39, a 2002 West Point graduate, was attracted to the business of media after he served in the Army, where he was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. At GroupM, he was especially attracted to the role data plays in helping brands reach the right audience. He sees data playing a much larger role for Learfield as he gets more established.
“Learfield has the best content with college athletics, and the best audience with a demo that’s hard to reach,” Schneider said. “These are all things brands want to be associated with. That, and the culture at Learfield, is what attracted me to the company.”
The company also hired veteran public relations executive Bill Palen to be its chief communications and marketing officer, giving Learfield someone in that role for the first time. Learfield veteran Roger Gardner, who wore many hats during his 35 years with the business, is shifting into an advisory role. He oversaw communications most recently.
Palen joined Learfield after a 24-year career at PR giant FleishmanHillard, where he ran point on the AT&T account, among many others.
Bob Beaudine at Eastman & Beaudine ran the search for Palen’s position.
