About Us

Since 1996, TurnkeyZRG has completed over 1,400 executive searches spanning the full landscape of sports, entertainment, music, 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 Commissioner for the Big 12

TurnkeyZRG has assisted in the recruitment of Brett Yormark as the fifth commissioner of the Big 12 Conference. Mr. Yormark’s official start date with the Irving, TX-based college athletic conference is expected to be August 1. His initial contract term is five years. As announced in April, current commissioner Bob Bowlsby will transition to a new

TurnkeyZRG Retained by Pac-12 Conference to Lead Chief People and Inclusion Officer Search

TurnkeyZRG has been called in by the Pac-12 Conference to lead its search for chief people and inclusion officer. The recruiting firm is seeking a leader to provide comprehensive human resources leadership for the Pac-12 organization and influence over its 12 universities’ athletic departments and student-athletes. The executive will be expected to provide a strategic vision

TurnkeyZRG Assists University of Wisconsin Recruit Head Soccer Coach

TurnkeyZRG recently placed Neil Jones as head soccer coach for University of Wisconsin. Mr. Jones previously led the Loyola University Chicago men’s soccer program for nine years. “We are thrilled to welcome Neil Jones as our next men’s soccer head coach,” said Chris McIntosh, Wisconsin’s director of athletics. “He has a proven track record of

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.

Press Releases

NCAA names Gov. Charlie Baker as New President

FROM SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, BY MICHAEL SMITH Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a former Harvard basketball player and avid sports fan, has been selected as the NCAA’s next president. Baker replaces outgoing NCAA President Mark Emmert and will start March 1. His second term as governor is slated to conclude Jan. 5. The NCAA’s choice of Baker signifies

Fiesta Bowl Names Erik Moses as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Kicking off a new chapter in the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s storied history, seasoned sports executive and business leader Erik Moses joins the Fiesta Bowl as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. For more than two decades, Moses has built successful ventures for sports and entertainment properties through the creation of innovative events

Monumental names Friday Abernethy GM of its RSN

Monumental Sports & Entertainment has named Friday Abernethy GM for NBC Sports Washington in the wake of its acquisition of the RSN from NBC Sports in August. Abernethy was most recently EVP/Content Distribution & Partnerships with Univision. TurnkeyZRG was the executive search firm used by MSE. Jackie Bradford had been running the RSN since late 2020.

JT Batson Named New CEO / Secretary General for U.S. Soccer

CHICAGO (Sept. 26, 2022) – JT Batson has been named as the new CEO / Secretary General of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Batson, 40, succeeds Will Wilson, and will start in his role immediately. He will be moving to Chicago in the coming months to work out of the U.S. Soccer headquarters. Wilson, who made

Chad Chatlos Named One of College Football’s 25 Most Intriguing People in Suits in 2022

Commissioners, agents, politicians, NIL company executives and more will play a key role in the sport this fall. by Pat Forde, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated The 2022 college football Most Intriguing Lists continue. Last week’s installment: the Most Intriguing Coaches. This week: Most Intriguing People In Suits—that is, the people away from the field who