holland reid / img college licensing
When Ashley Page arrived at IMG College three years ago, she discovered an outdated system that made it challenging for the business’s trademark infringement unit to keep pace with counterfeiters. The older systems simply weren’t contending with a new marketplace that focused heavily on online product infringement.
Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Learfield IMG College
Age: 39
Born: Philadelphia
Education: Spelman College, B.A., history; Harvard Law School, J.D.
Family: Children, Justin Jr. (11) and Jolie (7)
What gets you fired up? New challenges, solving difficult problems, watching my kids thrive/succeed and Eagles victories!
Guilty pleasure: Planning out super healthy meals but then cooking deliciously fattening/decadent ones.
Could not go a day without: My kids.
Cause supported: Humans of New York Patreon.
Person in the industry you’d most like to meet: Tie — LeBron James and Allen Iverson. I have a tremendous respect for both of them as game changers.
Sports industry needs to do a better job of … : Diversity and inclusion and advancing the careers of minorities and women.
We’d be surprised to know that … : I was the first contestant ever from Philadelphia on “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?” when I was 11, and I won!
Page came to IMG College with an extensive retail background. She was the lead commercial attorney for Google’s shopping products and services, and advised Google in all aspects of its shopping-related commercial transactions before joining IMG’s college division as an associate general counsel.
So, she used her experience and penchant for innovation to restructure the legal side of the college business, benefiting both clients and the internal operation.
Now, Page oversees a team of six attorneys and five other legal professionals who manage all legal aspects of the newly merged Learfield IMG College’s business, from multimedia rights to licensing, tickets and the stadium seating business.
She counts Tim Pernetti, president of IMG College and formerly athletic director at Rutgers, as a mentor who has helped her understand the business of college sports.
Growing up in Philadelphia as a huge Eagles fan, Page hoped to forge a career out of her passion. Along the way, she crossed paths with Naima Stevenson, the NCAA’s deputy general counsel. Stevenson told eye-opening stories of how a legal background can lead to a career in sports.
“What I love about it is that no two days are the same,” Page said. “Most of the things that come across my desk are on fire, but the experience has been great.”
