About Us

Since 1996, TurnkeyZRG has completed over 1,400 executive searches spanning the full landscape of sports, entertainment and media:

  • Professional sports teams and leagues
  • College/university athletic departments and conferences
  • Content, digital and social media entities
  • Investors at all stages, including venture and private equity
  • Facilities, including stadiums, arenas and theaters
  • Associations, non-profits and NGB’s with ties to sports and entertainment

Before joining TurnkeyZRG, our leadership worked as senior executives at ESPN, MLB teams, NHL teams, music companies, SEC, ACC and Big East athletic departments and other top organizations within the sports, entertainment and media landscape.

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Since 1996, TurnkeyZRG has completed over 1,400 executive searches spanning the full landscape of sports, entertainment and media:

  • Professional sports teams and leagues
  • College/university athletic departments and conferences
  • Content, digital and social media entities
  • Investors at all stages, including venture and private equity
  • Facilities, including stadiums, arenas and theaters
  • Associations, non-profits and NGB’s with ties to sports and entertainment

Before joining TurnkeyZRG, our leadership worked as senior executives at ESPN, MLB teams, NHL teams, music companies, SEC, ACC and Big East athletic departments and other top organizations within the sports, entertainment and media landscape.

Solutions And Expertise

Solutions
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Executive Coaching
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Mgmt. Consulting
  • Recruitment Research
Industries
  • Advertising/Marketing
  • Associations
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Consumer
  • Education
  • Foundations
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Non-Profit
  • Private Equity
  • Sports
  • Travel, Hosp. & Leisure
Functions
  • Advertising
  • Board/Governance
  • Business Development
  • CEO/President
  • Communications/PR
  • Customer Service
  • Data/Analytics
  • Development
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Finance/Accounting
  • General Management
  • GM/Operations
  • Human Resources
  • Information/Digital
  • Investing
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Marketing & Sales

News Briefings

TurnkeyZRG Recruits Chief Communications Officer for US Olympic & Paralympic Committee 

TurnkeyZRG recently assisted the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in the recruitment of Kate Hartman as its chief communications officer. Allie Crone led the assignment. Ms. Hartman will lead USOPC communications initiatives, reporting to Katie Bynum, chief strategy and growth officer, and working closely with USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland to integrate stakeholder engagement

ZRG Acquires Turnkey Search

ZRG has made a major move into the sports, entertainment & media sectors by acquiring Turnkey Search. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Renamed TurnkeyZRG, all Turnkey staff and assets merge into ZRG and the firm will continue to be led by Len Perna, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Turnkey.  Turnkey will now

Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Search Assignments for 2020

In 2020 the pandemic resulted in one of the most challenging years on record for executive search firms. But the need for talent continued unimpeded for most companies across dozens of disciplines. Despite fears that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) would get pushed to the backburner by the demands of the COVID-19 crisis, recruitment in

Turnkey Search Recruits Chief DE&I Officer for the Orlando Magic; Fills ACC Commissioner Role

Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, has placed Esu Ma’at as the new chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer of the Orlando Magic. This becomes the ninth NBA team to add a vice president-level position or higher dedicated to addressing diversity. “Turnkey Search is honored to help the Orlando Magic advance equity because it’s in

Press Releases

Cynopsis Announces Top Women in Media Honorees Class of 2021

July 15, 2021.  Cynopsis Media, in partnership with platinum sponsor TurnkeyZRG, has announced the 2021 class of honorees for the Cynopsis Top Women in Media awards. The awards are earned by female trailblazers who are pushing the industry forward, while empowering and inspiring others. These honorees are innovators, risk-takers and those instrumental in executing strategy spanning the

Lauren Rhodes Named Senior Associate AD & SWA

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Dr. Lauren (Cevis) Rhodes joins the Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) staff as the senior associate AD, student-athlete performance, health and welfare and senior woman administrator (SWA), it was announced today, in collaboration with TurnkeyZRG, by Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour. Rhodes comes to Happy Valley after spending seven

ZRG Acquires Leading Culture Consulting Firm, Walking The Talk

NEW YORK, NY, July 7, 2021 – ZRG, recognized as the fastest growing global executive search firm two of the past four years, today announced the acquisition of Walking the Talk, a top consulting and advisory firm focused on culture transformation. Walking the Talk is a world leader in enhancing performance results by aligning culture with strategy. Since the company

Grambling State Announces Dr. Trayvean Scott as VP for Intercollegiate Athletics

Grambling State University President Rick Gallot, in collaboration with TurnkeyZRG, announced on Thursday the hiring of Dr. Trayvean Scott as the new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Scott to the team and look forward to the impact he will have on the department,” said President Rick Gallot. “His commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes and experience

Kansas City Chiefs Name Lara Krug Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

In collaboration with TurnkeyZRG, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the hiring of Lara Krug as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. She joins the Chiefs after three years as Vice President of U.S. Marketing for Stella Artois, part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, and will oversee all club marketing functions, including brand marketing, community outreach, digital,