WNBA Names Ann Sarnoff Chief Operating Officer
February 5, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
New York, February 5 â WNBA President Val Ackerman announced today that Ann Sarnoff will join the WNBA on February 23 as the league's Chief Operating Officer. Sarnoff, who will report to Ackerman, will be charged with overseeing the business functions of the league, including its advertising, broadcasting, marketing, merchandising, player programs and communications activities.
Sarnoff comes to the WNBA from Viacom, where she served as Chief Operating Officer for both VH1 and Country Music Television. Her responsibilities there included strategic planning and business development for both channels, together with oversight of the digital television networks, program enterprises businesses, and the research, legal, financial and human resource functions.
Prior to her role at VH1 and CMT, Sarnoff served as Executive Vice President of Consumer Products and Business Development for Nickelodeon, where she launched "Rugrats" and "Blues Clues" products into the market and built Nickelodeon's merchandising division into a sizable business. She began her career at Nickelodeon in 1994 as Vice President of Business Development and was later responsible for developing the business plans of TV Land and Noggin, Nick's successful spin-off channels. Before joining Viacom, Sarnoff was a strategic consultant for Marakon Associates where she assisted Fortune 50 companies in developing strategies and improving their operations.
"By attracting an executive of Ann's caliber, we fortify our management capabilities and better equip the league to focus â and capitalize â on the opportunities that are unique to women's sports," said Ackerman. "With the recent momentum of investment from new ownership groups and the establishment of new marketing partnerships, the WNBA continues to solidify its place on the sports landscape, and Ann's diverse skills will be of great value as we enhance our business prospects and streamline our internal operations."
Sarnoff's appointment follows a run of positive news for the WNBA:
· Earlier in the week, two Phoenix-area business and community leaders, Anne Mariucci and Kathy Munro, invested as owners and partners in the Phoenix Mercury, becoming the first women outside investors to partner with an NBA team in ownership of a WNBA franchise.
· Last month, Procter & Gamble expanded their sponsorship to include nine P & G brands during the 2004 season, which begins May 20.
"The WNBA is an enormously important part of our long-term strategy for the growth of basketball. The addition of Ann Sarnoff is another example of our commitment to the WNBA," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "Ann has the ideal background to harness the vast assets of both the NBA and WNBA as we convert the WNBA's considerable opportunities into new business initiatives, revenue growth and increased fan support."
"I am thrilled to be joining the talented and dynamic team at the NBA and am excited about the opportunities to build on the successes of the WNBA and women's sports," said Sarnoff.
Sarnoff graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a B.S. in marketing and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She is a member of the Board of the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and lives in New York City with her husband, Richard, and their two children.
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from February 5, 2004
- Los Angeles Sparks Michael Cooper to coach 2004 got milk? Rookie Challenge - WNBA
- Seattle Storm Guard Sue Bird Added To USA Women's Senior National Team - Seattle Storm
- Charlotte Sting Acquire Third Pick in 2004 WNBA Draft - Charlotte Sting
- WNBA Names Ann Sarnoff Chief Operating Officer - WNBA
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