NEW YORK – JANUARY 21, 2025: Elevate, an award-winning, full-service consulting firm supporting high-performing organizations in sports and beyond, has today announced the appointment of renowned sports and entertainment industry leader Brendan Donohue to its senior leadership team. The nearly 30-year industry executive will be responsible for providing leadership and driving strategic direction for the firm’s North American sports practice as Managing Partner of Elevate Talent and Special Advisor to the CEO. The longtime NBA Team Business and Marketing Operations executive and former NBA 2K League President will play a critical role in driving innovative solutions for the world’s most ambitious organizations across sports, entertainment, media, and lifestyle brands.
Widely regarded as a trusted and innovative industry voice, Donohue has earned a reputation for developing elite teams and talent, building organizational cultures that foster innovation and growth, and pursuing cutting-edge technology that enhances fan and partner experience. Donohue most recently served as the first President of the NBA 2K League, during which time he stewarded the global league and brand to international renown, garnering a host of global awards, including ESPN’s ESPY Awards, The Webby Awards, The Hashtag Sports Awards, The Tempest Awards, and many more. Over eight years serving as Senior Vice President of the NBA's industry-renowned Team Marketing and Business Operations department, Donohue led the strategic planning and management for all teams across the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League during a landmark period of growth and innovation.
“Brendan’s deep industry knowledge, proven leadership, commitment to identifying and developing executive talent, and passion for innovation make him a natural thought partner in the development of our global strategy and lead for Elevate Talent’s sports practice in North America,” said Elevate Chairman | CEO, Al Guido.
“Elevate is on an incredible, upward trajectory, and Al is committed to making sure we are continuing to expand and grow this business,” said Brendan Donohue, Managing Partner, North American Sports, Elevate Talent and Special Advisor to the CEO. “I am so excited to be a catalyst in helping drive the business and working to unlock new opportunities.”
“Brendan’s appointment reinforces Elevate’s reputation as the home for industry-leading executive talent who value integrity, innovation, and the spirit of authentic partnership,” said Liz Moulton, Elevate Talent Chairman and Elevate Chief People Officer. “Brendan’s experience will add a new depth to our firm during a truly pivotal period in Elevate’s growth, following a record-breaking 2024.”
As Managing Partner of Elevate Talent, Donohue will be responsible for helping spearhead the strategy and operations for the North American sports practice. Donohue’s appointment precedes the first anniversary of the official launch of the agency’s global search and leadership advisory practice; initiated by the acquisition of international search firm, SRI. Less than one week ago (January 17, 2025), the LPGA appointed Elevate Talent to conduct the executive search for its next Commissioner. In 2024 alone, Elevate Talent placed senior leadership positions and partnered with many of the world’s most innovative sports companies, including National Governing Bodies and international Olympic organizations; leagues and teams in the NFL, MLB, NHL, MLB, MLS, and NWSL; industry-leading organizations including NASCAR, AEG, and BSE Global; notable entertainment brands including Disney, Flutter, BBC, and Ticketmaster | Live Nation; and more.
The senior leadership appointment follows the December 2024 announcement that Levy had joined Elevate’s ownership group, which now includes the San Francisco 49ers, Arctos, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, and Velocity Capital Management. In 2025, Elevate will open new headquarters in New York City, London, Chicago, and Nashville. The agency of more than 300 employees operates offices in 14 countries across four continents, including Salt Lake City, Munich, Milan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, and more. Over the past 12 months, Elevate has has announced four diverse acquisitions in the areas of executive search and global talent advisory; premium experiential hospitality; and global brand consulting and activation.
About Brendan Donohue:
Brendan Donohue is Managing Partner of Elevate Talent and Special Advisor to the CEO at Elevate, an award-winning, full-service consulting firm supporting high-performing organizations in sports and beyond. The nearly 30-year industry veteran is responsible for providing leadership and driving strategic direction across the global agency; while stewarding the direction and operations of Elevate’s North American executive search and leadership advisory sports practice. The longtime NBA Team Business and Marketing Operations executive and first-ever NBA 2K League President, plays a critical role in driving innovation for Elevate’s roster of more than 1,000 organizations across sports, entertainment, media, technology, gaming, lifestyle, and consumer sectors through his multifaceted role at Elevate.
Widely regarded as one of the industry’s most trusted and innovative executives, Donohue has earned a reputation for developing elite teams and talent, building organizational cultures that foster innovation and growth, and pursuing cutting-edge technology that enhances fan and partner experience over his nearly three decades leading professional team and league operations.
In 2017, Donohue was commissioned by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Take Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, to commence the NBA 2K League, the first-ever esports league operated by a traditional sports league. As President of the NBA 2K League, Donohue oversaw the esports league that expanded from 17 original NBA-owned franchises to 25 teams, including the sale of three franchises in China, Australia, and Mexico, in addition to guiding significant growth in viewership and number of broadcast partners from around the world, going from 650K viewers of the NBA 2K League Finals in the inaugural season on Twitch alone to a historic 2M viewers in recent years with games broadcast across platforms, including ESPN2, NBA TV, Twitch, YouTube, TSN and Sportsnet in Canada, and Loco in India.
Previously, Donohue served as Senior Vice President of the NBA's industry-renowned Team Marketing & Business Operations (TMBO) department, where he led the strategic planning and management for all teams across the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League, helping them innovate in sales, marking, digital and analytical areas of their business. He was instrumental in several of TMBO's most significant accomplishments, including assisting with ownership transitions in Sacramento, Philadelphia, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Memphis. He also led team business discussions at WNBA and NBA G League Board of Governors meetings and presented at frequent workshops, including assisting NBA team presidents on best practices in marketing, ticket sales, and sponsorship sales.
Before joining the NBA league office in 2009, Donohue spent five years as Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service with the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers, and Philips Arena. During his career in Atlanta, Donohue led five consecutive seasons of revenue growth, including ranking first in the NBA in ticket revenue growth during the 2008-09 season. He also previously held positions with the then-New Orleans Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Palace Sports and Entertainment.
In 2024, Donohue served as a business consultant for several professional sports and entertainment entities. Notably, under former CEO Scott O’Neil, he consulted on organizational strategy initiatives for Merlin Entertainments. The world’s second largest attractions company, Merlin oversees an estate of more than 140 immersive attractions and amusement parks across 23 countries and spanning four continents; inspired by dynamic partnerships with world-leading entertainment brands including LEGO®, Peppa Pig, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and more.
Donohue’s expertise, vision, and leadership has earned him a place behind the podium at the sports, esports, and entertainment industry’s most influential events, including the NBA Board of Governors Annual Meetings, the NBA Team President Meetings, SXSW, events hosted by Sports Business Journal and Leaders in Sport, and more; and on stages spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Owing to his global expertise in professional sports, esports, and live entertainment, Donohue has been a guest and expert on CNBC, Bloomberg, BBC News, ESPN, Tencent, and more; he has been featured in the world’s most significant media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The LA Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, the China Daily, Sports Illustrated, and many more.
In addition to his rigorous, global business agenda, Donohue is an active Volunteer with the Special Olympics, and is a member of the Tri-Fitness Triathlon Team. Donohue earned a bachelor's degree from Boston College. He was born in Plainview, NY and now resides in Fairfield, Conn., with his wife Patty, daughter Mandy, and son Carter.
About Elevate:
Elevate is an award-winning, full-service consulting firm supporting high-performing organizations in sports and beyond with innovative, data-driven, revenue-generating solutions. Elevate’s unparalleled combination of agency and operating experience, along with proprietary technology solutions, data sources, and software products, maximizes efficiencies in Consumer Insights, Research, Strategy and Analytics; Brand Consulting and Activation; Partnership Sales and Consulting; Executive Talent Strategy, Recruitment, Performance, and Organizational Design, Leadership Coaching, and Optimization; Creative Consultancy and Experiential Design; Property, Premium Hospitality, and Ticketing Strategy and Sales; Feasibility and Revenue Consultation for New and Renovated Venues; and more. Established in 2018 to provide comprehensive solutions to organizations across the global sports and entertainment ecosystem; today, the agency supports over 1,000 of the world’s most ambitious organizations across sports, entertainment, media, technology, gaming, lifestyle, and consumer sectors. For more information, follow Elevate Experiences on Instagram and TikTok and Elevate on X (@OneElevate_), LinkedIn, and Instagram.
