Marshall Zelaznik
{{short description|American sports industry executive}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Marshall Zelaznik
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name =
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|occupation = Sports executive
|known_for = UFC executive roles
|children =
|spouse =
}}
Marshall Zelaznik is an American sports industry executive and the current CEO of GLORY kickboxing promotion.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/sports/ufc-mcgregor.html |title=Conor McGregor's Retirement and the U.F.C.'s Plan to Survive It |first=Ben |last=Shpigel |work=The New York Times |date=March 28, 2019 |via=NYTimes.com}}
Having started his career as a lawyer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com:443/en/Journal/Issues/2015/11/23/People%20and%20Pop%20Culture/What%20I%20Like.aspx|title=What I Like: Marshall Zelaznik, UFC|website=www.sportsbusinessdaily.com}} Zelaznik eventually went in-house with pay-per-view television provider iN DEMAND as their vice president of programming before later accepting an offer of an executive role with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/demands-zelaznik-jumps-ufc-332288|title=In Demand's Zelaznik Jumps to UFC|first=Multi Channel News|last=Staff|website=Multichannel|date=11 August 2006}}
Biography
In his ten years as executive vice president and chief content officer for the UFC, Zelaznik oversaw the organization's pay-per-view and digital business and was also tasked with growing the organization's presence in markets outside of the United States. During his tenure the UFC opened up markets in the UK, Brazil,{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/ufc/9721453/Marshall-Zelaznik-UFC-in-expert-hands-with-new-CEO-Garry-Cook.html|title=Marshall Zelaznik: UFC in expert hands with new CEO Garry Cook|first=Gareth A.|last=Davies|date=December 4, 2012|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, UAE, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Mexico.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/1/23/16923044/former-ufc-executive-vice-president-marshall-zelaznik-appointed-as-glory-ceo|title=Former UFC executive vice president Marshall Zelaznik appointed as GLORY CEO. |first=Peter|last=Carroll|date=January 23, 2018|website=MMA Fighting}}
Zelaznik created the UFC's own in-house digital streaming platform Fight Pass, which Inc. credits with "helping build UFC's content business into one of the most widely-available sports properties in the world".{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/darren-heitner/how-a-former-ufc-executive-found-a-new-role-in-e-sports.html|title=How a Former UFC Executive Found a New Role in E-Sports|first=Darren|last=Heitner|date=February 28, 2017|website=Inc.com}} The UFC subsequently achieved a $4.025bn valuation - the largest-ever sports-industry acquisition, according to the New York Times{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/11/business/dealbook/ufc-sells-itself-for-4-billion.html|title=U.F.C. Sells Itself for $4 Billion|first=Michael J. de la|last=Merced|work=The New York Times |date=July 11, 2016|via=NYTimes.com}} - when it was sold by Zuffa LLC to Endeavor.
In the wake of the buyout of Zuffa LLC, Zelaznik was released by the new owners and replaced by their own personnel.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2016/10/ufc-layoffs-include-executives-garry-cook-marshall-zelaznik-and-ufc-asia-chief-ken-berger|title=UFC layoffs include executives Garry Cook, Marshall Zelaznik and UFC Asia chief Ken Berger|date=October 18, 2016}}
Zelaznik subsequently accepted a role as chief executive officer of the GLORY kickboxing organization.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/movers-and-shakers/marshall-zelaznik-named-chief-executive-of-glory-sports-international|title=Marshall Zelaznik named CEO of Glory Sports International|website=www.sportspromedia.com|date=25 January 2018 }} On March 14, 2020, internal Glory e-mails announced Zelaznik had resigned from Glory.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
In June 2020 Zelaznik joined Vindex, LLC as Esports Engine's CEO.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/12/21/vindex-appoints-marshall-zelaznik-to-esports-engine-ceo-adam-apicella-as-esports-engine-president-vindex-cxo/|title=Vindex Appoints Marshall Zelaznik to Esports Engine CEO, Adam Apicella as Esports Engine President/Vindex CXO |date=21 December 2020 }}
Zelaznik re-joined GLORY as the CEO March 18, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/former-ufc-exec-marshall-zelaznik-163019866.html|title=Former UFC exec Marshall Zelaznik returns to GLORY as CEO|date=March 18, 2024|website=Yahoo Sports}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://mmaunit.com/list-of-dead-ufc-fighters/ List of Dead UFC Fighters]
{{Ultimate Fighting Championship}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zelaznik, Marshall}}
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship