PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Veteran sports marketer Kerry Atkinson has been named general manager for Rutgers Sports Properties, as announced today by Learfield IMG College, athletics multimedia rightsholder for Rutgers University.
Atkinson assumes the new role on March 1. He has been the general manager for Learfield IMG College’s Syracuse Sports Properties since July 2015. Atkinson brings decades of professional and college sports sponsorship, sales, marketing and media expertise to Rutgers. He is a former executive director, strategic partnerships for Sunrise Sports and Entertainment, overseeing related activity for the NHL’s Florida Panthers and BankAtlantic Center (now BB&T Center), and a former senior vice president of sales for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Atkinson also has held senior corporate partnership sales positions with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans.
As primary Learfield IMG College liaison, Atkinson will work closely with Rutgers’ Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Hobbs and Deputy Director of Athletics Sarah Baumgartner on all aspects of the rights relationship.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kerry Atkinson to the Rutgers family,” said Baumgartner. “He possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enhance our efforts to engage and grow successful corporate partnerships. Kerry’s enthusiasm for the job and for coming ‘home’ are contagious. We can’t wait to get to work.”
In addition to Atkinson’s move to general manager, Learfield IMG College promoted Rutgers Sports Properties’ Kevin Williams from senior manager, business development to director of business development. He joined Learfield IMG College in 2018 and is the former associate athletics director for external relations and development at Queens College (NY). Adam Goldberg, manager of business development; and Robbie Hamill and Ashley Kavanagh, partnership services coordinators; round out the Rutgers Sports Properties team.
“We have a terrific team dedicated to serving Rutgers Athletics, fans and sponsors,” said Learfield IMG College Multi-Media Rights Vice President East Region Keith Bradshaw. “We’re excited to have Kerry come on as GM, and he has deep ties to the mid-Atlantic and northeast regions. This team is poised to continue to do exceptional work for the Scarlet Knights and is committed to create, innovate and provide new ways for corporate partners to connect with fans in the current environment and as we transition back to fuller stadiums.”
Learfield IMG College is the leading media and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions for fan engagement. The Learfield IMG College suite of services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics; ticketing, ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company has long had the privilege of being an advocate for intercollegiate athletics and the student-athlete experience. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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