NEW YORK, June 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG) today announced that David "Doc" O'Connor has been named president and chief executive officer, effective July 15. Mr. O'Connor joins the company after spending the last three decades at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he played a critical role in helping build one of the most respected talent and sports agencies in the world.
As MSG's president and CEO, Mr. O'Connor will be responsible for setting the Company's overall strategic vision, as well as for the advancement of its sports, media and entertainment businesses. Mr. O'Connor will identify new initiatives that enhance MSG's existing brands and represent new opportunities for growth. This includes the Company's current pursuit of a spin-off, as well as the formation of new strategic alliances and transactions.
James Dolan, executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company, said: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Doc, who brings with him an extensive understanding of the entertainment and sports worlds, including deep industry relationships and a history of successfully creating platforms for growth. We are confident that his expertise will be crucial to our efforts to strengthen our legendary brands and pursue growth opportunities that expand our business and increase shareholder value."
Mr. O'Connor said: "Growing up in New Jersey, some of my earliest and fondest memories involve The Madison Square Garden Company – from my first professional hockey and basketball games to my first rock concert to Radio City Music Hall and the Christmas Spectacular. It is a privilege for me to come full circle and work with MSG's legendary brands. I believe my experience and relationships in the sports and entertainment industries have given me a unique perspective on how to maximize assets and pursue strategic growth, and I look forward to working with the well-respected management team and employees across MSG to help lead the company into its next celebrated chapter."
Before joining MSG, Mr. O'Connor spent more than 30 years at CAA, serving as managing partner of the world-wide entertainment and sports agency for the past 20 years. He began his career at CAA in 1983 in the mailroom and was soon promoted to agent in the Motion Picture department. In 1995, Mr. O'Connor took over day-to-day management and ownership of the agency along with his partners, helping to expand the agency's operations and services around the globe, while maintaining the company's reputation as a trusted agency. In 1996, Mr. O'Connor and his partners broke new ground in the entertainment industry with the creation of the CAA Foundation, which involves the entertainment community and CAA clients in philanthropy and engages organizations to lend their support to a variety of philanthropic programs. This was followed in 2006 by the launch of CAA Sports, which today represents more than 1,000 of the world's top athletes, coaches and broadcasters, along with many of the biggest brands and properties in sports worldwide, including The Madison Square Garden Company.
In 2008, Mr. O'Connor also co-founded and established Evolution Media Capital (EMC), a CAA affiliate that provides investment banking and advisory, asset management, industry research, and capital-raising services to the media and sports industries. And in 2012, Mr. O'Connor was instrumental in the creation of CAA Eleven, a dedicated CAA subsidiary that manages the media, sponsorship, and licensing rights for all National Team Football in Europe governed by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations).
Mr. O'Connor is married to Lona Williams and has two children, Lucy and Angus.
The Madison Square Garden Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment and is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, bull riding and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks. MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the New York Spring Spectacular, both featuring the Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.
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CONTACT: Barry Watkins
EVP, Communications
212-465-5920
Barry.Watkins@msg.com
Kim Kerns
SVP, Communications
212-465-6442
Kimberly.Kerns@msg.com
