With Adam Silver set to take over for David Stern as the NBA’s new commissioner on February 1, the League had to decide who would be next in line for the job. Today, the NBA Board of Governors announced that person will be Mark Tatum. From the NBA:
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…
“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.”
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.
