The FAST channel ReachTV has named RACHEL JACOBSON as its next CEO. Jacobson was previously Drone Racing League President. She will report to BEN BERENTSON, CEO of Owned Media at Stagwell, which owns ReachTV. Jacobson also spent 21 years at the NBA and was an SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree in 2010. As part of Jacobson’s hire, ReachTV founder LYNNWOOD BIBBENS will transition into the newly created role of Executive Chair (Austin Karp, SBJ).
USA Volleyball has named BARI GREENFIELD as its new COO. Greenfield, who starts May 18, succeeds STEVE BISHOP in the role and will report to USA Volleyball President & CEO JOHN SPERAW. Greenfield most recently served as VP/Enterprise Partnerships at MLS. She previously was VP/Strategy, Planning & Organizational Operations at N.Y. Road Runners (Mary Gaughan, SBJ).
USL Super League club Carolina Ascent FC named MARGARET GRAMANN President of Business Operations. Most recently, Gramann served as CCO at Crenshaw Associates. She is also the founder of Charlotte-based Ascend Astute, an advisory practice supporting post-collegiate and pro athletes as they transition to their next careers (Carolina Ascent FC).
NBA VP & Head of U.S. Business Development JARED BLECHMAN announced on LinkedIn that he will be moving on from the league office after 13 years. Blechman first joined the league in 2013 as an Account Executive/Business Development before assuming elevated roles during his tenure (SBJ).
New Era Cap President JIM PATTERSON, GM/North America STEVE GALLO and VP/Global Supply Chain JOSH CREASMAN have “all departed the company.” Patterson will be replaced by SVP Global Licensing & Business Development BRUCE POPKO. Popko formerly worked as an executive with the Bills and as COO for Pegula Sports + Entertainment. Chief Digital & Information Officer LORENZ GAN has been appointed COO. VP/Global Quality DAVE HEIMBURG has been appointed VP/Global Supply Chain and Senior Dir/IT JENNIFER LAWRENCE has been appointed VP/IT (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/27).
Eagles SVP & Tertiary Football Executive BRYCE JOHNSTON is “leaving for an executive role” with the Falcons. Johnson spent 10 seasons with the Eagles (Harrisburg PATRIOT-NEWS, 4/27).
Legends Global promoted Assistant VP/Ticket Operations & Revenue Generation for the Univ. of Miami NATE MILLER to VP/Ticketing & Business Operations for UM (SBJ).
The Rose Bowl Operating Company and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation named BRENT VICINO VP/Advancement (SBJ).
X Games named AMANTHA DIKIN Dir/Ticketing & Box Office. Dikin notably spent nearly six years with Front Gate Tickets, most recently as Sales Manager (SBJ).
Prime Video named KRISTEN SMITH U.S. Sports Publicist. Smith spent nearly five years with Disney Advertising working in corporate communications (SBJ).
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