President
IMG Sports & Entertainment
George Pyne leads IMG’s global sports and entertainment enterprises spanning 30 countries and including the world’s preeminent clients and events in college sports, motor sports, golf, tennis, fashion and entertainment, along with consulting, licensing and the IMG Academies. As a member of IMG’s Board of Directors, Mr. Pyne also helps shape the company’s strategic initiatives.
The college division Mr. Pyne oversees is the leading collegiate multimedia, marketing, ticketing, and licensing/brand management company in America, representing more than 200 of the nation’s top collegiate properties, including the NCAA and its 89 championships, NCAA Football, leading conferences, and many of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country. In 2011, IMG launched the first nationwide collegiate marketing platform, providing brands an entrée to intellectual property and events on campuses in 49 of the nation’s top 50 markets. IMG College produces nearly 30,000 hours of radio programming on the largest independent sports radio network in the country, manages nearly 5,000 hours of local television programming, and is the leading publisher of college sports publications and manager of university athletic websites.
Prior to IMG, Mr. Pyne was Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR and the second non-family member in 57 years to join its Board of Directors. Mr. Pyne’s accomplishments during a period of explosive growth included a $4.5 billion television rights deal in 2005, the $750 million sponsorship of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2004, investments by more than 100 Fortune 500 companies, the creation of a $2 billion licensing business, and the recognition of NASCAR as one of the most admired brands in North America.
Before NASCAR, Mr. Pyne worked at the Portman Companies where he helped develop a strategic plan for the company’s $2 billion debt restructuring. He was later appointed Executive Director of AMC Events, a division of the Portman Companies that creates and manages marketing events for major sports properties.
Mr. Pyne has been named to the Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under Forty” list three times as well as to the Sports Business Journal’s “Hall of Fame” and the Sports Marketing Letter’s “Executive of the Year.” He also has been named one of Advertising Age’s “Top-100 Marketers” and has been regularly listed as one of the most influential people in professional sports by Business Week and The Sporting News.
Mr. Pyne attended Brown University where he served as captain of the football team and earned All-Ivy League and All-New England honors.
