The 500 Festival announced today that Bob Bryant has been named the 500 Festival’s fourth President and CEO.
Bryant brings 20 years of experience creating brand-defining successes and significant revenue growth in categories including events, sports, broadcast, motorsports, entertainment, consumer products, retail and online. Bryant will assume his new role on June 10, 2013. Bryant currently serves as the Tournament Director at the BB&T Atlanta Open, an ATP World Tour event that features the top men’s professional tennis players.
As President and CEO, Bryant is responsible for directing the 500 Festival in efforts to produce unparalleled events and programs, grow corporate support and sponsorship, build the foundation and increase community engagement.
“I am extremely honored and excited to be selected to lead the 500 Festival into this next chapter,” said Bob Bryant, 500 Festival President and CEO. “Indianapolis is clearly a community that has deep roots in racing and has proved itself time and again that it can host world-class events. I look forward to building on the reputation of this established organization.”
“Bob has a strong track record of success and innovation in the event field,” said Ted Dickman, 500 Festival Chairman of the Board. “He truly understands how a city comes together for large-scale events. We are thrilled that Bob and his family will be joining the community in this important leadership role.”
Over the span of his professional career, Bryant has developed many skills that will prove beneficial to the 500 Festival. Most recently, at the BB&T Atlanta Open, Bryant was responsible for securing multi-year event sponsorships, building significant financial and promotional partnerships and establishing strong relationships with local government and civic leaders, while managing sales and marketing support of nine state offices representing more than 190,000 members.
Prior to that, Bryant launched his own firm, Team Works Marketing, Inc. where he served as chairman and CEO. Clients of the agency included: the USTA, the ATP World Tour, the US Open, Cartoon Network, Kellogg’s, the Greater Rome Bank, the Georgia Force (Arena Football), the Arena at Gwinnett Center, Freedom Park Conservancy, Atlanta Flyfishing Festival and Smucker’s Stars On Ice (Atlanta show).
Bryant also spent five years at Turner Broadcasting and the Cartoon Network, mostly as Vice President of Off-Channel Commerce. Bryant managed Cartoon Network Smash Tennis, a program designed with the Tennis Industry Association, USTA and ATP World Tour to promote tennis to kids which included a national television image campaign and an interactive event which appeared around the U.S. and in South America, Asia, Australia and Europe. He also managed Cartoon Network Wacky Racing including primary sponsorship of a NASCAR team, licensing, merchandising, co-sponsorships, on-air and in-store promotions and created the Off-Channel Commerce department.
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