NBA Names Mark Tatum Deputy Commissioner

The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the appointment of Mark Tatum to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, the NBA announced today. A 15-year veteran of the league office, Tatum will assume his new role on February 1, 2014, when current NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Adam Silver becomes NBA Commissioner.

The NBA also announced the promotions of three other league executives, also effective February 1. Bill Koenig, NBA Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and General Counsel, has been promoted to President, Global Media Distribution, reporting to Silver. Sal LaRocca, NBA Executive Vice President, Global Merchandising Group, has been promoted to President, Global Operations and Merchandising, and Danny Meiseles, NBA Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, has been promoted to President and Executive Producer, Content. LaRocca and Meiseles will report to Tatum.

Jason Cahilly, NBA Executive Vice President, Strategy and Chief Financial Officer, will assume the position of Chief Strategic and Financial Officer, reporting to Silver. NBA Executive Vice President and General Counsel Rick Buchanan will now oversee all of the league’s legal matters, reporting to Joel Litvin, President, League Operations.

“Mark Tatum’s appointment as NBA Deputy Commissioner is recognition of the confidence our owners and teams have in his leadership ability and track record of success,” said Silver. “As Deputy Commissioner and COO, Mark will use his extensive industry relationships and knowledge of our game to help guide and grow our league.”

“Bill has played a key role in structuring and negotiating the league’s broadcast and digital agreements while developing strategies for dealing with the rapidly changing media landscape. Sal has worked closely with the NBA’s regional offices around the world while leading the NBA’s award-winning merchandising business. Danny has been instrumental in developing the NBA’s event and media programming and managing the league’s relationships with our television partners,” said Silver. “Together these executives have led their respective areas in a way that has earned them accolades from their colleagues and the industry.”

In his role as Executive Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships, Tatum oversaw the NBA’s marketing partnerships business across the NBA, WNBA, NBA Development League, and USA Basketball. He also was responsible for managing the league’s media sales, including sales of NBA TV, NBA.com, and other NBA-controlled media, along with leading the sales relationships with the league’s TV partners. Tatum joined the NBA in 1999.

Prior to joining the NBA, Tatum held marketing and sales positions with The Clorox Company, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Major League Baseball. Tatum received a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Cornell University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School.

As President, Global Media Distribution, Koenig will now be responsible for overseeing media distribution on a global basis. For the past seven years Koenig has served as NBA Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and General Counsel, where he was the head of business affairs and responsible for all legal work across a variety of league businesses including digital, television, media, sponsorship, and licensing. Koenig joined the NBA in 1990 and is a graduate of Harvard University, the London School of Economics, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

As President, Global Operations and Merchandising, LaRocca will now oversee the NBA’s regional offices and international development. He will continue to manage the league’s merchandising and consumer products businesses. LaRocca joined the NBA in 1990 and is a graduate of St. John’s University.

As President and Executive Producer, Content, Meiseles will add oversight of the league’s Events, Marketing, Digital Media, and Operations & Technology departments to his current responsibilities. For the past three years, Meiseles served as Executive Vice President and Executive Producer for NBA Entertainment, where he has managed the development and production of NBA, WNBA, and NBA Development League content worldwide. Meiseles also oversees the league’s relationships with its national television partners and NBA Digital. Meiseles joined the NBA in 1990 and is a graduate of St. John’s University.