With Decades of Experience across Media, Technology & Building Growth-Stage Culture, TMRW Sports Team Adds Key Hires
New York and Orlando, Fla.: TMRW Sports, which is focused on building progressive approaches to sports, media, and entertainment, has announced its next wave of key staff positions. The announcement was made by Mike McCarley, founder and CEO of TMRW Sports (pronounced “tomorrow sports”). McCarley and co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy formed TMRW Sports and announced the company’s first project, TGL, following nearly two years of development.
“Adding this group of executives to the TMRW staff we previously announced is another step in building a best-in-class company blending sports and technology to create a new approach to entertainment. Soon we will unveil a roster of world-class investors and partners that bolsters the expertise of our team as we continue to attract leaders with diverse experience and expertise to join TMRW Sports. From our founders, investor group, partners, and team members, we aim to create a culture of quality as we work toward the launch of TGL, in partnership with the PGA TOUR, said McCarley.”
TMRW Sports staff announcements include:
Scott Armstrong, Vice President, Gameplay & Tech Integration – Scott Armstrong has spent more than 20 years unlocking paths for sports and broadcast organizations to create and deliver industry leading innovative solutions. Growing up a son of a PGA Tour player, Armstrong has a tribal golf knowledge that has been fused with a unique on-air graphics and technology acumen. In his role with TMRW Sports, he has been leading strategy and integration of tech partners, as well as development of TGL’s gameplay.
Prior to TMRW Sports, Armstrong was the Director of Tournament Graphics at Golf Channel where he oversaw the on-air graphics and technology for many of golf’s biggest events. Under Armstrong’s leadership, Golf Channel won the race to be the first to display live club/ball data; the first to display a player’s live heart rate; and the first to be able to trace golf shots on all 18 holes. Armstrong’s entry into golf and related technology began at the PGA TOUR during the launch of ShotLink, their current scoring system, where he took the lead as the main liaison between the PGA TOUR and the broadcast partners in architecting the display of ShotLink data.
Marysol Fuhr de Blanch, Vice President, People and Culture – Marysol Fuhr de Blanch is a bilingual human resources professional with more than 16 years of experience in the sports, entertainment, retail, technology, and non-profit industries. As a certified human resources and change management professional, she has a track record of building and growing start-up organizations, as well as implementing and driving people strategies.
Prior to joining TMRW Sports, Fuhr de Blanch served as the HR Director for Orlando SC, a Major League Soccer club in Orlando and the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League. During her time leading Human Resources, Orlando City SC was awarded the 2020 Best Front Office by Front Office Sports and 2020 Best Places to Work by Orlando Business Journal, all while leading the club through the COVID pandemic, the launch of the MLS Next Pro league and an ownership transition. While at Orlando City SC, Fuhr de Blanch partnered with a local university to impart diversity, equity, and inclusion certification training to foster an inclusive work environment.
Jon Kropp, Vice President, Digital Media – Jon Kropp is a veteran sports media executive who has spent his career in pivotal roles helping marquee sports media brands navigate and succeed in a rapidly changing landscape. As TMRW Sports Vice President, Digital Media, Kropp is leading the company’s digital and social media strategy.
Prior to joining TMRW Sports, Kropp served four years as Golf Channel’s Vice President, Digital Media where he was tasked with overseeing strategic and operational initiatives to broaden the network’s range of digital offerings and oversaw Golf Channel’s social media platforms. Under Kropp’s leadership, the network increased its live streaming offerings, created new original digital video content and launched predictive gaming. Kropp also negotiated digital partnerships with golf’s governing bodies and leading digital media outlets.
Previously, Kropp spent more than 15 years as a Turner Sports executive, immersed in various aspects of the organization’s sports media portfolio, including PGATOUR.com and PGA.com. Kropp served as Vice President of Strategy and Acquisitions for Turner Sports where he led the implementation of Turner’s strategic plans and negotiating sports television and new media rights. He was instrumental in 15 media rights agreements, including the company’s landmark rights deals with the NCAA, Major League Baseball, NBA, Yahoo! Sports, NASCAR, and the PGA of America, representing an investment of more than $20 billion.
Chad Read, Vice President, Brand & Creative Director – Chad Read joins TMRW Sports as Vice President, Brand & Creative after more than 17 years as a creative lead in the broadcast media, entertainment, and video game industries.
Most recently, Read served as Creative Director for Red Rocket Studios where he oversaw all creative content for some of the largest global brands in the energy, healthcare, foodservice, lifestyle and technology landscapes. Prior to that Read spent more than a decade at Golf Channel where, as Vice President, Brand & Creative, he was responsible for leading the overall development and delivery of all creative projects for events, marketing, promotion, digital, print, production, and on-air broadcast. Read successively drove the creative vision for Golf Channel and its many brands and franchises across all platforms maintaining a consistent tone and voice. Prior to his time at Golf Channel, Read had creative roles at Sun Sports / Fox Sports Florida and AWE Games.
Kaitie Richardson, Manager, Administration and Culture – Kaitie Richardson brings more than 10 years’ experience to TMRW Sports across organizational support and development, human resources, and DEI initiatives. In her role at TMRW Sports, Richardson is responsible for structuring executive support, enhancing the company’s people and culture framework, and managing key business operations.
Prior to joining TMRW Sports, Richardson held multiple positions in the technology and banking sectors. Most recently she served as human resources business partner and diversity lead for Stax Payments, a leading credit card processing company in the FinTech industry where she provided critical services to more than100 employees, while developing and implementing corporate wide DEI initiatives across North America.
Richardson is a former Division I track and field athlete and 3-time Junior Olympian who now coaches a local high school track team and serves on the Leadership Advisory Council for After School All Stars.
Previously, TMRW Sports announced its initial staffing hires: Matthew Levine, Senior Vice President, Business Operations; David Schaefer, Senior Vice President, Communications; Tom Veit, Senior Vice President, Venue and Events; Christopher Murvin, General Counsel; Joey Brander, Vice President, Corporate Development; Katie Fitzpatrick, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Joanne Chiang, Director of Operations.
About TGL:
In August, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and McCarley announced the formation of TMRW Sports and TGL, a new tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR. TGL will showcase team competitions fusing advanced tech and live action from a custom-built venue in primetime on Monday nights. Woods and McIlroy are the first two golfers committed to compete and the league’s inaugural season will kick off in January 2024.
TGL, the golf league of TMRW Sports, will feature:
- Teams: Six teams of three PGA TOUR players in head-to-head, 18-hole match play;
- Tech-Infused Venue: A first-of-its-kind experience for golf enabled by a data-rich, virtual course combined with a tech-infused, short-game complex;
- Tech-Enabled Fan Experience: High-energy, greenside fan experience with every shot live within a 2-hour, primetime televised match;
- Season: 15 regular season Monday night matches followed by semifinals and finals matches.
About TMRW Sports Group: (pronounced “tomorrow sports”)
Founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and sports executive Mike McCarley, TMRW Sports is focused on harnessing technology to build progressive approaches in sports, media, and entertainment to create new pathways for the next generation to enjoy sports. TMRW Sports’ first project, TGL, is an innovative league launched in partnership with the PGA TOUR. TMRW Sports is supported by an all-star roster of athletes, celebrities, and business leaders from the worlds of sports, media, technology, and finance who make up a powerful and diverse investor group. TMRW Sports joins Woods’ TGR Ventures and McIlroy’s Symphony Ventures, and is led by McCarley, founder and CEO. For more, visit TMRWSportsGroup.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
David Schaefer
SVP, Communications
David.Schaefer@TMRWSportsGroup.com
+46 702877637 (mobile and WhatsApp)
407-429-8402 (U.S. mobile)
Adam Freifeld
Communications Consultant
Adam.Freifeld@TMRWSportsGroup.com
917-597-7762
