NHL Promotes John Collins to Chief Operating Officer

The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that John Collins has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In addition to continued oversight of the NHL's business and media operations, as COO Collins will now also be responsible for the League's communications and Club Consulting functions.

Collins will report directly to Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Collins joined the NHL in November 2006, and in May 2007, he assumed the title of NHL Senior Executive Vice President, Business and Media, overseeing the League's marketing and licensing programs, all business sales, the production and creation of League content across all platforms, and the League's existing and future traditional and new media relationships.

During Collins' tenure at the NHL, the League has experienced record breaking seasons in terms of revenue, attendance, television ratings and NHL.com traffic. In his time at the League, Collins integrated the League's business and media operations; oversaw the development of new, strategic corporate marketing partnerships with companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Bridgestone and ScotiaBank; spearheaded the creation of the NHL Winter Classic (for which he was named Marketer of the Year by Advertising Age Magazine), oversaw the launch of NHL Network in the United States; and he initiated NHL Network Online, the League's landmark broadband media experience.

"In a relatively short time, John has constructed, and is executing, a successful business model for the NHL, leading the League through a new growth phase," said Bettman.

Collins has more than 15 years of experience managing business and media properties in a professional sports league context. Prior to joining the NHL, Collins was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Browns after being recruited for this position from the National Football League office by new Browns owner Randy Lerner.

Prior to joining the Browns in April 2004, Collins served in a variety of key business roles with the National Football League since 1989. In his last role as NFL Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Collins led all the marketing, programming, corporate sponsorship and advertising sales of the League. Collins is credited with leading a branding effort that resulted in that league becoming one of the most visible and successful brands in the world with marketing partnerships valued in excess of $1.9 billion in rights fees, activation and advertising commitments. Collins began his NFL career with NFL Films.

Sources Cited: MarketWatch