The former CEO of ESPN, Steve Bornstein, becomes the president of Genius Sports Limited’s executive team in North America.
Genius Sports Appoints Steve Bornstein As President in North America
Sports data provider Genius Sports Limited has appointed Steve Bornstein as the president of its North American team, effective immediately. Genius Sports’ US and Canadian activities will be under Bornstein’s leadership, as he will continue to build up the existing team.
When commenting on his new appointment, Bornstein said that he is excited to join Genius Sports during the company’s expansion.
Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke said that Bornstein was forward-thinking and an accomplished executive who will bring to the table more than 30 years of experience in the sports media industry.
Bornstein added, “I’m delighted to partner with Mark and his outstanding team as Genius demonstrates and deepens its commitment to driving real value for its partners in the US and Canada. I can’t wait to get started.”
Genius Sports Seeks Growth with Bornstein on Board
As the company continues to grow its strategy in North America, it started searching for someone with vision. Bornstein played a major role in the success of brands like the NFL and ESPN and, according to the company, is a leader with values that would fit well within Genius. He will help the company move forward in its partnerships and innovation endeavors.
While leading Genius Sports’ North American operations, Bornstein will optimize the current business infrastructure. He will also help the company accelerate its growth in existing and new areas, including streaming. Bornstein will work with the executive team to find innovative acquisition targets and support the integration of recently acquired companies like Second Spectrum, which offers data tracking and analytics for EPL, MLS and NBA. The company is also set to acquire Creative Platform Spirable.
Bornstein will help the company source and unlock value with its new and existing sports partners like NASCAR, the NFL, the NBA, MLB and the NCAA. DraftKings, a leading sports operator, recently signed supplier agreement with Genius Sports, as well.
Who Is Steve Bornstein?
In the past, Bornstein has held different positions, including in sports, media and broadcasting. He has extensive experience of over 20 years in ABC and ESPN, where he was the youngest CEO and president at the age of 38 in 1990.
He is also the former Chairman of Activision Blizzard’s esports division. There, he created new professional leagues and found new ways to provide experiences to fans across geographies, platforms and games.
Bornstein is well-known for his position as President, CEO, and founder of the NFL Network. He was the Executive Vice President of Media there as he oversaw the league’s media division, leading negotiations on sponsorships and TV deals.
He continues to be a senior adviser to The Raine Group, a merchant bank investing and providing advice on media, telecom and technology.