Welcome to Sportico’s transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships, products and purchases across the sports business industry.
PERSONNEL
ITF Appoints Ross Hutchins as New Chief Executive Officer
The ITF has announced that Ross Hutchins has been appointed as its new chief executive officer. Formerly a professional tennis player, Olympian, Davis Cup player and tournament director, Hutchins has held various executive level roles at the ATP Tour over the past 11 years. Currently ATP chief sporting officer, he will join tennis’ global governing body at the end of October 2025. As CEO, he will oversee the ITF’s strategic direction, operations and global development work. He will also lead the World Cup of Tennis events Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, as well as the ITF’s management of tennis and wheelchair tennis at the Olympics and Paralympics.
Puma Appoints Archie McEachern as Vice President Basketball
Puma has appointed Archie McEachern as the vice president of its basketball business unit, starting Aug. 18. He will be based in Boston and report to Puma’s chief product officer Maria Valdes. McEachern previously held leadership roles in merchandising, product creation and sales at Nike and VF Corporation. He also worked as the CEO of basketball innovation start-up 360 Hoops. At Puma, Archie replaces Max Staiger, who left the company earlier this year.
FanDuel Sports Network Taps Damon Phillips as EVP, Team Partnerships
FanDuel Sports Network, owned and operated by Main Street Sports Group, announced that Damon Phillips is joining the company as executive vice president, team partnerships, effective Aug. 25. In this role, Phillips will assume oversight of the South, Southeast, Florida and Sun regions, including partnerships with the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Carolina Hurricanes, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Nashville Predators, Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Rays. He will report to David DeVoe, president of Main Street Sports Group.
Dave Jenkins Elevated to President of Haslam Sports Group
Haslam Sports Group (HSG) announced that Dave Jenkins has been elevated to president. Jenkins is in his 22nd year with the Cleveland Browns and HSG, previously serving as the organization’s chief operating officer. As part of his role, he leads the organization’s daily business operations and long-term vision, directing all organizational goals related to the business, including financial management, revenue generation, marketing, stadium operations, government relations and administration. Jenkins is leading the Browns’ future stadium planning process.
PFL Taps Jaime Pollack to Lead Latin America Expansion
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has appointed Jaime Pollack as general manager of PFL Latin America, effective immediately. Pollack will report to PFL International CEO Peter Murray and lead the league’s expansion across Latin America, overseeing operations, media rights, talent development and commercial strategy in the region. Pollack brings more than two decades of experience in global sports and media, having previously served as SVP of international development and general manager of Latin America at the UFC. His career includes senior executive roles at Amazon Web Services, Activision Blizzard and Anthem Sports & Entertainment.
John Cook Joins Omaha Supernovas as Co-Owner, General Manager
The Omaha Supernovas have appointed four-time collegiate volleyball national champion John Cook as co-owner and general manager of the organization. Cook will help lead all team operations, including player and coaching staff signings, as the Supernovas prepare for the free agency period, slated to begin Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. local time. Cook will report to and collaborate closely with team president Diane Mendenhall. Cook announced his retirement from Nebraska volleyball in January after 25 years in Lincoln and 32 seasons as a college head coach.
World Surf League Appoints Farris as CMO and President of North America
The World Surf League (WSL) announced the appointment of Brooke Farris as its new chief marketing officer and president of North America. Farris will lead the WSL’s global brand, marketing, communications and social media strategy, while also overseeing events and operations for the North American region. Most recently, she served as CEO of surf brand Rip Curl. This is a return to the WSL for Farris, who, prior to her time at Rip Curl, served as Women’s World Tour manager at the then Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).
RCX Sports Foundation Appoints Ericka Newsome as Executive Director
The RCX Sports Foundation, the nonprofit arm of RCX Sports dedicated to developing, promoting and implementing diversity and inclusion in youth sports, announced the appointment of Ericka Newsome as its first executive director. Newsome will oversee the foundation’s efforts to expand access to youth sports opportunities nationwide. Newsome will lead investment strategy, program development, and partner engagement—working with major leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and USTA—to scale programming. Prior to joining the RCX Sports Foundation, Newsome served as director of community engagement for the Memphis Grizzlies.
PARTNERSHIPS
Genius Sports Secures Exclusive Data, Streaming Rights With Serie A
Genius Sports has agreed to an exclusive partnership with Serie A to capture, distribute and commercialize official data and video streams from Italy’s top football competitions through the 2028-29 season. This agreement grants Genius Sports exclusive rights to every Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana fixture. Genius Sports will also gain access to Serie A media rights for both data and tracking, supporting a range of editorial activities including broadcast augmentation as well as match reports, news content and analysis.
USA Gymnastics and NBC Sports Extend Partnership Through 2032
NBC Sports will bring the competition and stories of USA Gymnastics athletes to the U.S. audience through 2032 in an extension of their partnership. NBC and Peacock will continue to present coverage of USA Gymnastics’ most high-profile artistic gymnastics events through 2032, including the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships and U.S. Classic. NBC Sports also will produce a special selection show for USA Gymnastics women’s team rosters for Artistic World Championship competitions each non-Summer Olympic year, providing a ramp-up to NBC Sports’ coverage of the men’s and women’s FIG Artistic World Championships.
U.S. Soccer Federation, Kellanova Reach New National Partnership
The U.S. Soccer Federation and Kellanova announced a partnership making Kellanova the Official Snack of U.S. Soccer. Fans can expect Kellanova’s brands to show up in national advertising and with digital and social media content and exclusive assets featuring the company’s brand mascots. There will also be retail activations, creative packaging, in-store displays and events across the country.
Just Women’s Sports, NWSL Renew Digital Media Partnership for 2025
Just Women’s Sports (JWS), the multimedia platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, announced the continuation of its partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the fourth consecutive year as an official digital media partner. Just Women’s Sports has secured the rights to distribute official NWSL game highlights for the ongoing season as the league returns from its summer break and the playoff push begins.
Joe Moore Award Announces Partnership With Logistics Plus
The Joe Moore Award, awarded annually to college football’s most outstanding offensive line unit, has a new partnership with Logistics Plus. As part of the agreement, Logistics Plus will serve as the Exclusive Logistics Provider of the Joe Moore Award. Logistics Plus will closely collaborate with the Joe Moore Award regarding the annual transportation and delivery of the trophy, the largest given out in American sports and one that weighs more than 800 pounds. The partnership also will allow Logistics Plus to utilize the Joe Moore Award in both its external marketing and internal communications efforts, including asset-branding and internal employee recognition programs.
Athletes First, Sinclair/Amp Sports Enter Events and Media Partnership
Athletes First, a sports representation and marketing agency, and media company Sinclair have announced an events and media partnership. Sinclair will produce original content and brand activations at the next iteration of Athletes First program The Block—scheduled for San Francisco in February—and host live, original video podcasts from multiple stops on the Tailgate Tour. In addition, event content will be distributed across Sinclair’s sports platforms.
Meters Music Becomes Official Audio Partner of NFL’s Buccaneers
Meters Music, makers of vintage-inspired headphones, earbuds and gaming audio systems, has announced a partnership with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As the Official Audio Partner of the Buccaneers, Meters is granted the use of team marks, branding and signage at Raymond James Stadium, banner ads on the Bucs’ website and mobile app, email bulletins and social media posts, plus exclusive branding of the popular DJ booth and Pirate Ship at Raymond James during home games and other events. The partnership kicks off Aug. 9 at the Bucs’ first preseason game versus the Tennessee Titans.
Rize Named Official Credit Union of the Los Angeles Chargers
Rize Credit Union has joined the Los Angeles Chargers as the team’s official credit union. Rize will partner with the Chargers on “financial wellness programs” and participate in financial education for students through Bolt Academy, a collaborative program with the Los Angeles Chargers Impact Fund, Inglewood Unified School District and Brotherhood Crusade.
WTA No. 1 Sabalenka Taps Electrolit as Official Hydration Partner
Reigning WTA World No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka announced a new partnership with hydration beverage company Electrolit. The multiyear collaboration will feature Sabalenka in a national Electrolit campaign, with brand integration across her tournament appearances and social media.
