NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — David 'Doc' O'Conner has been named president and chief executive officer, after spending the last three decades in a senior role Creative Artists Agency.
As MSG's president and CEO, Mr. O'Connor will oversee the anticipated spin-off of their entertainment unit as well as the formation of new strategic alliances and transactions.
Before joining MSG, Mr. O'Connor spent more than 30 years at CAA, serving as managing partner of the world-wide entertainment and sports agency for the past 20 years. He began his career at CAA in 1983 in the mailroom and was soon promoted to agent in the Motion Picture department. In 1995, Mr. O'Connor took over day-to-day management and ownership of the agency along with his partners, helping to expand the agency's operations and services around the globe.
In 1996, Mr. O'Connor and his partners launched the CAA Foundation, which involves the entertainment community and CAA clients in philanthropy and engages organizations to lend their support to a variety of philanthropic programs. This was followed in 2006 by the launch of CAA Sports, which today represents more than 1,000 of the world's top athletes, coaches and broadcasters, along with many major brands and properties in sports worldwide, including The Madison Square Garden Company.
In 2008, Mr. O'Connor also co-founded and established Evolution Media Capital (EMC), a CAA affiliate that provides investment banking and advisory, asset management, industry research, and capital-raising services to the media and sports industries. And in 2012, Mr. O'Connor was instrumental in the creation of CAA Eleven, a dedicated CAA subsidiary that manages the media, sponsorship, and licensing rights for all National Team Football in Europe governed by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations).
James Dolan, executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company, said: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Doc, who brings with him an extensive understanding of the entertainment and sports worlds, including deep industry relationships and a history of successfully creating platforms for growth. We are confident that his expertise will be crucial to our efforts to strengthen our legendary brands and pursue growth opportunities that expand our business and increase shareholder value." – Staff Writers
