US-based sports marketing giant Wasserman has brought in experienced executive Chris Foy as its new head of rights sales in North America.

Foy, who since June 2021 has been an executive vice president of global partnerships at US agency Legends, was unveiled as EVP and managing director for North American rights sales at Wasserman, yesterday (August 13).

Wasserman has said that Foy will “deliver significant partners and revenue to its rights-holder clients.”

Before his three years at Legends, Foy spent time at sports brands including Live Nation, while between 2011 and 2021 he was the founder and president of marketing firm Impression Sports & Entertainment. He has over 25 years of experience across sports, sponsorships, and live events.

Foy’s role will include “bolstering Wasserman’s retained rights holder roster by acquiring new clients as well as maximizing revenue for existing clients.”

This hire was unveiled soon after the Los Angeles Lakers, the iconic NBA basketball franchise, brought in Wasserman as a partner agency to secure international sponsorships.

Los Angeles-based Wasserman now serves as the team’s exclusive commercial agency as it seeks to bolster its portfolio of global brands.

In terms of that agency’s overall activity, meanwhile, it bolstered its commercial sales offering by acquiring CSM Sport & Entertainment in 2023.

Other Wasserman sports clients include a range of teams from English Premier League soccer, motor racing’s Formula 1, and the British and Irish Lions rugby union touring side.

Foy said: “Having watched Wasserman’s exponential global growth over the last few years, the opportunity and potential of this role is truly exciting. With the rights holders we have on our roster and Wasserman’s global network, coupled with the relationships and expertise this team has within the industry, it provides the perfect platform to deliver innovative and effective partnerships.”

Matt Vandrau, Wasserman president for EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and APAC (Asia-Pacific), added: “Chris is one of the most respected and accomplished sponsorship executives within the sports and entertainment landscape and we are thrilled to have him lead our North American rights business.

“Our goal is always to deliver the best service possible to our clients and we have a first-class team to deliver this which is further strengthened by Chris’s arrival.”