SRiCheyenne Launches West Coast Media & Entertainment Recruiting Operation
September 26, 2017 – SRiCheyenne has experienced a wave of growth since its creation in January with the merger of the Cheyenne Group and SRi. Among recent changes, the firm announced that Jamie Waldron has joined as a partner and will launch West Coast media and entertainment executive search operations from Los Angeles.
Mr. Waldron was previously president of Sucherman Group, a management consulting and executive search firm, where he executed C-suite assignments for a wide range of blue-chip media and entertainment clients. Before his career in executive recruitment, he held a number of positions in the entertainment industry, including president of Team Entertainment Group, television packaging agent at Creative Artists Agency, EVP of programming at Pearson Television North America, SVP at Gerber/ ITC Entertainment and director of creative affairs at Viacom Productions.
Media Expert
“Jamie is a leading expert in the strategic and organizational trends that are driving the ever-quickening evolution of the media, content and entertainment industries,” said Jay Hussey, CEO of SRiCheyenne. “I’m delighted to welcome him to SRiCheyenne as we help our clients navigate the changes and disruptions in their markets. Jamie’s experience on the industry side, coupled with knowledge gained as a world-class executive search professional, will be of huge benefit to our clients.”
Mr. Waldron said he was thrilled by the new opportunity. “I’ve witnessed firsthand how technology, audience fragmentation and globalization are all bringing disruptive change to the media and entertainment industry landscape and how companies large and small are seeking new approaches to talent and organization building to survive and thrive,” he said.
“SRiCheyenne’s industry expertise, global reach, and boutique approach is unique in the marketplace and gives clients an extraordinary edge.”
SRiCheyenne has worked with some of the biggest brand names in entertainment and sport to secure top talent over its 20-year history. Among them: HBO, BSkyB, IMG Media, News Corp, Harvard Business Review, Taunton Press, F+W, Visible World, National Geographic, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Sunset + Vine, BBC America, Univision, Huffington Post, World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, England and Wales Cricket Board, Wasserman, ESPN, Lagadere, Eurosport, Discovery Channel, BT Sport and the NBA.Its clients include international rights holders, professional clubs & teams, international federations, governing bodies, corporate sponsors, venues, major events, broadcasters, media owners, agencies and sporting goods brands.
Sports Recruiting Finds Its Own Field of Dreams
Sports teams, from the professional level on down to college athletic programs, all now require a strong professional talent base. It’s not surprising that dozens of search firms compete hard for every plum assignment that surfaces.
Newly Combined Firm
SRiCheyenne was recently launched following the merger of the U.S.-based media and content recruitment provider, Cheyenne Group, and UK-headquartered SRi (formerly Sports Recruitment International). “This merger is a significant landmark in the history of the firm and gives us a strong platform to grow the business in new markets and sectors,” said Jim Chaplin, CEO of SRi Group. “The convergence of media, sports and entertainment continues to move at a rapid pace with an increasing transfer of talent between industries globally. The combination of SRi and the Cheyenne Group allows us to build an even more formidable offering and we can’t wait to get started.”
The firm just recently named Ashling O’Connor as a partner and leader of the media, content and digital practice in EMEA. Her focus is to continue SRi’s work in these areas, while ensuring that the growing links between the disciplines are developed in a global context. Since leaving journalism in 2014, Ms. O’Connor has advised on senior executive and board appointments globally for content-driven companies including FTSE100, FTSE250, Fortune 500, family-owned and private equity-backed businesses. She joined the firm from media and entertainment-focused search boutique Inzito Partnership.
SRiCheyenne also recently named Mr. Hussey as CEO, taking over for founder Pat Mastandrea, who has moved into a new role at the firm as vice chairman. Mr. Hussey has more than 15 years in executive search with leading global recruiting firms. He joined SRiCheyenne from Odgers Berndtson, where he led the firm’s U.S. technology and digital transformation practices.
SRiCheyenne is well positioned to address a rapidly evolving global marketplace that demands executive leaders who can navigate new digital and data-driven business models and consumer platforms, said Ms. Mastandrea. “Jay’s experience in digital and technology, both as a business leader and as an executive search professional, gives us even stronger capabilities with which to help our clients.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
