ESPN has named longtime collegiate administrator Michael Thompson Jr. to the purpose of vice president, programming & acquisitions, performing principally on ESPN’s college networks houses. In his new posture, Thompson will serve as the point of call for ESPN’s business with the Southeastern Meeting, including duty for SEC Network’s programming tactic, articles acquisitions, dwell occasion scheduling and P&L, as perfectly as location the extensive-time period method for SEC Network and SEC Community+, and overseeing content material and publication for SECSports.com, the conference’s web page. He will also oversee programming approach and scheduling for Longhorn Community, ESPN’s 24-hour community devoted to the University of Texas.
“College sports activities, and in particular the Southeastern Convention, have been a frequent thread all over my and my family’s lives for a long time, and I’m thrilled for this new option at ESPN,” Thompson reported. “It’s genuinely the most effective of each worlds – the chance to function with the proficient team at ESPN on powerful programming, effective storytelling and ground breaking methods to attain our viewers, put together with continuing to work with Commissioner Sankey, Charlie Hussey and the unbelievable employees at the SEC office environment, as nicely as my colleagues on campuses across the state.”
Thompson delivers a prosperity of encounter from across the faculty sporting activities landscape, combining for extra than a decade in the government ranks at both equally Ole Miss out on and Texas A&M. He was most a short while ago the Deputy Athletics Director for Exterior Relations and Organization Improvement at Texas A&M, shelling out just about 3 years in his role together with Director of Athletics Ross Bjork. Thompson served in a similar job at Ole Overlook with Bjork, and notched a 9-12 months tenure in Oxford.
“We’re so excited to welcome Michael to ESPN,” mentioned Ilan Ben-Hanan, ESPN senior vice president, programming & acquisitions. “His deep connections and robust interactions all over the school sporting activities community will serve us effectively as we carry on to grow and evolve our college or university networks small business.”
Thompson carries a strong status as an innovative and collaborative chief, owning a short while ago served as the President of NACMA (National Association of Collegiate Advertising Administrators) and boasting an expansive resume in branding, promoting and sponsorship in the personal sector just before transitioning to intercollegiate athletics in 2010. He’s an award-profitable executive, controlling a team that was honored with the 2019 Technology Innovation Award by the Countrywide Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
At A&M, he led unified initiatives created to improve profits opportunity, extend the Aggie model both equally nationally and globally, and more increased chances for engagement. Also, Thompson spearheaded cross-departmental initiatives with multiple entities with regards to external communications and advertising, ticketing, licensing and merchandising, information technologies and multimedia rights.
When in Oxford, Thompson was the SEC Community point of contact and served as the university’s agent on the SEC Enthusiast Encounter performing group, main the team’s analysis endeavours. For seven decades, he was also an adjunct professor in integrated marketing and advertising communications at Ole Miss, his alma mater.
“I’m unbelievably grateful for the help of my family, Ross’s leadership and believe in above the earlier 12 decades, and ESPN’s self-assurance in me for this position,” Thompson shared. “I cannot wait to get started.”
Thompson will be centered at SEC Network’s headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.
