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 CEO for SLAM Magazine 

TurnkeyZRG recently assisted SLAM magazine in the recruitment of Les Green as its new chief executive officer. Mr. Green, who is a former Nike and Teespring marketing executive, will serve as SLAM’s second CEO and lead the company’s overall expansion. Leading the assignment was Rick Alessandri, managing director of the search firm’s media and sports tech practice.

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

Press Releases

Gene DeFillippo Named to the Executive Committee of the Wasabi Fenway Bowl

The Fenway Bowl, an annual college football bowl game at Fenway Park, has announced Boston-based Wasabi Technologies, the premier provider of hot cloud storage solutions for business, as the title sponsor as part of a new multi-year agreement. The Wasabi Fenway Bowl has also announced the formation of an Executive Committee, a 16-member organization that

Les Green Named CEO of SLAM Magazine

In collaboration with TurnkeyZRG and for first time in its illustrious history, SLAM magazine has a new CEO. Les Green will replace founder Dennis Page. Green’s background is not one of producing magazines, per se, but it does signal a more modern approach for basketball’s definitive print publication. After a prolific run as a Brand

Executive Search Industry Icon James Caan Joins ZRG Board of Directors, Makes Seven Figure Investment

NEW YORK, NY, and LONDON, ENGLAND — ZRG, the fastest-growing global executive search firm, backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, is proud to announce that Hamilton Bradshaw CEO James Caan has joined ZRG’s Board of Directors. He has also made a personal seven-figure investment in the company. Caan is one of the most

TurnkeyZRG Hires Nzinga Shaw as President; Music & Sponsorship Search Practices Also Bolstered with New Hires

NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 27, 2021 —ZRG today announced the hire of Nzinga “Zing” Shaw into dual roles. Shaw becomes the first President of TurnkeyZRG, the sports & entertainment powerhouse talent recruiting firm acquired by ZRG last year. Additionally, Shaw will take over as parent company ZRG’s Managing Director, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer (internal)

Steve Brockelbank Named Ferris State University’s Athletics Director

In collaboration with TurnkeyZRG, Michigan native Steve Brockelbank has been named Ferris State University’s new athletics director. Brockelbank’s appointment was announced today (Sept. 10) by Vice President for Administration and Finance Jim Bachmeier. Currently serving as vice president and director of athletics at Muskingum University, in New Concord, Ohio, Brockelbank is a 1991 graduate of Eastern Michigan