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

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

Turnkey Search Adds Two Key Recruiters

Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, has added Chad Chatlos and Katy Young Staudt to its recruitment team. The pair join the firm from Ventura Partners. “Chad and Katy are championship caliber sports recruiters,” said Len Perna, chairman and CEO of Turnkey. “We’ll be even better at helping our clients win, win, win.” Mr.

Press Releases

Playfly Sports Hires Haynes Hendrickson as Senior Vice President of Business Development

(Jan. 15, 2021) Playfly Sports, the fast-growing full-service sports marketing company, in partnership with Turnkey Search, named Haynes Hendrickson, a well-respected sports and live events industry leader, as Senior Vice President, Business Development. Hendrickson will lead the growth of the company’s portfolio of Multimedia Rights clients across collegiate athletics and high school associations, Olympic sports,

University of Arizona Hire Jedd Fisch as Head Football Coach

(Jan,. 4, 2021) In collaboration with Turnkey Search, the University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke announced that veteran NFL and college coach Jedd Fisch is the next head coach of the Arizona Football program subject to final approval from the Arizona Board of Regents. Fisch comes to Arizona after eight

FC Cincinnati Hire Meg Ryan as Chief Marketing Officer

(Dec. 16, 2020) FC Cincinnati announced today the hiring of Megan Ryan as the Club’s new Chief Marketing Officer. Ryan, who will report to President Jeff Berding, will directly oversee team branding, advertising, communications, promotions and marketing. The national search for CMO was led by Turnkey Search. “We welcome Meg to Cincinnati and look forward

Charlotte FC Name Nick Kelly as President Ahead of the 2022 Launch

(Dec. 16, 2020) Charlotte FC in partnership with Turnkey Search continues to build out their front office ahead of entering MLS in 2022, with the expansion side announcing Tuesday that Nick Kelly has been named club president. Kelly, who will oversee Charlotte’s day-to-day business operations, joins after six years with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev). He

The ACC Names Jim Phillips as the Conference’s Commissioner

(Dec. 14, 2020) In partnership with Turnkey Search, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that James J. Phillips, Ph.D., the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation at Northwestern University, will serve as the conference’s next commissioner. Phillips brings more than three decades of experience in Division I athletics, a track record of tremendous