"John Martin is THE ideal CEO to lead the next chapter of growth at PFL - he is a proven media, content, and sports executive who is a respected global leader and business operator at scale." said Donn Davis, PFL Founder and Chairman. "I am thrilled to work closely with John to deliver on the vision to make PFL everything the fans, fighters, and sport of MMA deserves."
"MMA represents the biggest opportunity in sports, and the PFL has secured a unique position that will never be replicated. I'm incredibly excited about the future of the PFL and confident that we're only at the beginning of what this organization will achieve," said John Martin, CEO of PFL. "My two greatest passions are leading media companies and MMA, so stepping into the position of PFL CEO is truly a dream role for me."
In his new role, John Martin will oversee all aspects of the company's strategy, management, operations, finances, and personnel. Peter Murray will transition to the role of CEO of PFL International, where he will lead the accelerated launch and growth of the PFL's International Leagues. Murray will report directly to Martin in this expanded global structure.
John Martin served as Chairman and CEO of Turner LLC from 2014 to 2018, where he led the company to $13 billion in annual revenue and nearly $5 billion in operating income. He managed a massive portfolio of cable networks, digital platforms, content properties, and sports assets, including TNT, TBS, CNN, and Turner Sports.
Prior to that, John was Chief Financial Officer at Time Warner Inc., one of the world's largest media, entertainment, and sports companies, comprising Warner Bros., HBO, Turner LLC, Time Inc., and Time Warner Cable. Earlier in his career, Martin served as CFO of Time Warner Cable and was an early advocate for expanding UFC's cable distribution, recognizing the immense potential of MMA. At just 32, he was named Head of Investor Relations at Time Warner, earning multiple industry awards from Wall Street analysts and media investors.
John's passion for MMA runs deep. In his mid-20s, he began training in martial arts, earning a black belt in karate and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He competed in numerous amateur tournaments through his early 40s. Captivated by UFC 1, he quickly recognized the sport's unique appeal and long-term business potential, becoming a dedicated follower of MMA from its earliest days.
John Martin is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (Class of 1989), where he played Division I soccer. He later earned his MBA from Columbia Business School in 1994.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL is the only MMA organization with the "win and advance" tournament format. PFL has three fight products: PFL World Tournament, PFL Champions Series, and PFL International Leagues. PFL is broadcast and streamed live to 190 countries with 20 leading media partners. PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ, Ares, 885 Capital, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth and global sport business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.
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SOURCE Professional Fighters League (PFL)
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