Marketing communications firm Prosek Partners announced the hiring of former Big Ten and NFL executive Jon Schwartz Thursday as the company launches a sports-focused practice.
Schwartz previously served as SVP for communications, marketing, digital and social media at the Big Ten Conference and before that was the NFL’s SVP for communications and public affairs. He is also a professor at NYU.
“We are so thrilled to welcome Jon to our stellar team and to strengthen our sports business capabilities,” Prosek founder Jennifer Prosek said in a statement. “From executive visibility and integrated marketing communications to sponsorship optimization and issues management, Jon has phenomenal leadership experience in this nuanced space, and will lead the development of new and more robust offerings for current and prospective clients in the sports universe.”
At Prosek, Schwartz plans to offer public relations and marketing support to a range of sports clients, including owners, operators, athletes, leagues, sanctioning bodies and sponsors. Prosek has already worked with owners, athletes and sponsors.
“I am thrilled to be working with long-time Prosek executive, Aidan O’Connor, and various account teams to build on the strong work the firm has already done in the sports business space,” Schwartz said.
Founded in 1990, the company currently has more than 350 employees, with clients including Citi and TD Bank.
“As investment in sports becomes more global, diverse and pervasive—with the influx of private equity, private credit, venture capital, investment banks, media holding companies and athletes in business—sports business strategic communications is becoming more important,” Schwartz said in a statement. “Prosek is distinctively positioned to drive the business narrative for sports properties, build athletes’ business brands and help sports sponsors to optimize their investments.”
(This article has been updated in the fifth paragraph with an additional quote from Schwartz.)