Michael Thompson Jr. Named ESPN Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions

ESPN has named longtime collegiate administrator Michael Thompson Jr. to the job of vice president, programming & acquisitions, functioning primarily on ESPN’s college networks houses. In his new placement, Thompson will serve as the issue of make contact with for ESPN’s organization with the Southeastern Meeting, which includes accountability for SEC Network’s programming system, written content acquisitions, reside event scheduling and P&L, as nicely as setting the extensive-expression approach for SEC Community and SEC Network+, and overseeing written content and publication for SECSports.com, the conference’s internet site. He will also oversee programming strategy and scheduling for Longhorn Network, ESPN’s 24-hour community devoted to the University of Texas.

“College sporting activities, and specifically the Southeastern Convention, have been a frequent thread through my and my family’s lives for a long time, and I’m thrilled for this new prospect at ESPN,” Thompson stated. “It’s truly the most effective of both equally worlds – the opportunity to operate with the gifted staff at ESPN on compelling programming, effective storytelling and revolutionary methods to get to our audience, mixed with continuing to do the job with Commissioner Sankey, Charlie Hussey and the amazing workers at the SEC business office, as effectively as my colleagues on campuses throughout the state.”

Thompson brings a wealth of working experience from throughout the university sports activities landscape, combining for much more than a decade in the executive ranks at the two Ole Miss and Texas A&M. He was most lately the Deputy Athletics Director for Exterior Relations and Organization Enhancement at Texas A&M, shelling out almost 3 yrs in his position together with Director of Athletics Ross Bjork. Thompson served in a related purpose at Ole Pass up with Bjork, and notched a 9-yr tenure in Oxford.

“We’re so thrilled to welcome Michael to ESPN,” reported Ilan Ben-Hanan, ESPN senior vice president, programming & acquisitions. “His deep connections and robust interactions all over the college or university sports activities group will provide us well as we carry on to improve and evolve our university networks organization.”

Thompson carries a robust track record as an impressive and collaborative leader, possessing recently served as the President of NACMA (National Association of Collegiate Internet marketing Directors) and boasting an expansive resume in branding, promoting and sponsorship in the personal sector right before transitioning to intercollegiate athletics in 2010. He’s an award-successful govt, managing a team that was honored with the 2019 Engineering Innovation Award by the National Association of Collegiate Administrators of Athletics (NACDA).

At A&M, he led unified initiatives designed to optimize revenue potential, expand the Aggie manufacturer each nationally and globally, and more improved prospects for engagement. On top of that, Thompson spearheaded cross-departmental initiatives with several entities relating to exterior communications and advertising and marketing, ticketing, licensing and merchandising, info technologies and multimedia legal rights.

Though in Oxford, Thompson was the SEC Network issue of make contact with and served as the university’s agent on the SEC Lover Encounter operating group, main the team’s investigation initiatives. For seven several years, he was also an adjunct professor in integrated advertising communications at Ole Skip, his alma mater.

“I’m exceptionally grateful for the assist of my family members, Ross’s leadership and rely on in excess of the previous 12 several years, and ESPN’s self confidence in me for this purpose,” Thompson shared. “I just can’t wait around to get began.”

Thompson will be primarily based at SEC Network’s headquarters in Charlotte, N.C.