TKO combines UFC and WWE teams following merger

Source: WWE

TKO Group which consists of pro-fighting franchises UFC and WWE will combine both companies’ teams into one unit following the merger. 

Grant Norris-Jones, who has played a key role across UFC’s global partnerships for six years, has been promoted to executive vice president and head of global partnerships for TKO. He will work alongside Lou Koskovolis, who has been named TKO’s executive vice president of global partnerships. The duo will be tasked with managing TKO’s corporate partnerships.

The LA-based talent group Endeavor parent company to UFC, bought World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as part of a deal to create a $21bn “live sports and entertainment powerhouse”. The merge was completed in September, with the sports giant will be led by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and Vince McMahon, who was executive chairman of the board.

Mark Shapiro will be president & COO of both Endeavor and TFO, with Dana White continuing in his role as president of UFC and Nick Khan serving as president of WWE.

The newly combined unit will be responsible for creating new revenue opportunities and brand integrations across UFC’s and WWE’s live and original content.

“Since Endeavor acquired UFC in 2016, UFC’s global partnerships business has become a significant growth area,” said Andrew Schleimer, chief financial officer, TKO, “and we believe WWE’s partnerships business has similar potential. Together, UFC and WWE create a sports marketing powerhouse, with hundreds of live events per year and a reach that’s equal to, or better than, the world’s biggest sports properties. The newly integrated global partnerships team will offer premium brands the opportunity to integrate and activate within UFC’s and WWE’s extraordinarily popular content to engage their massive fan bases around the world.”