Ross Levinsohn, a pioneer in the finance, media and technology industries, was named CEO of Maven in August 2020. With more than 35 years of extensive experience, Levinsohn has served as CEO for various media companies, such as Sports Illustrated, Guggenheim Digital Media (GDM), and Tribune. He also held leadership positions for search engine platforms, serving as interim CEO of Yahoo! and as an executive with AltaVista. Possessing a sweeping array of accolades and skill sets, Ross Levinsohn has built a reputation as a “serial CEO,” successfully obtaining executive roles throughout his illustrious career..
Ross Levinsohn Has Never Shied Away From Challenges
Preparing for his career, Levinsohn studied communications at American University. receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. Although his origins are in advertising and marketing, Ross Levinsohn’s digital media career began at CBS Sportsline. His background consists of directing high-profile businesses and media brands such as HBO, Boston Consulting Group, and Fox Interactive Media. Many organizations led by Levinsohn are parent companies of other tech and media brands. For example, as the head of GDM, he supervised operations for companies like Billboard Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter.
Other professional highlights of Levinsohn’s include creating his own businesses and serving as publisher for the Los Angeles Times. His most recent accomplishments include expanding his role as CEO of Sports Illustrated — which he has held since 2019 — to take on the same title at Maven. His previous work experience established the foundation for his accomplishments as head of both successful companies.
Sports Illustrated: More Than Just a Magazine
Sports Illustrated is an American sports publication brand. Originating as a print magazine, the company has continued to set its sights on entering new media territories. Amid a digital revolution, SI effectively progressed to include an online platform and has successfully maintained a loyal subscriber base, owing 60% of its profits to subscription services. Owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG), Sports Illustrated has grown to become one of the most recognizable brands associated with sports. With Ross Levinsohn as CEO, they joined forces with Maven in 2019.
Maven Changed the Game With Sports Illustrated’s Licensing
Maven provides a platform for the monetization, publication, and distribution of digital and print media. With a monthly reach of approximately 150 million people, and growing, Maven’s coalition consists of more than 300 brands..
The company is described as a professional network of independent publishers coalesced to help fund a variety of media brands. Some of the most recognizable brands they support include History, TheStreet, and Maxim.
Notably, Maven acquired the editorial rights to Sports Illustrated from ABG in June 2019. In 2020, Maven announced a transition in leadership, along with additional funding for new projects. With Levinsohn at the forefront of these companies’ evolutions, they would rise to the occasion in the face of international uncertainty.
Maven and Sports Illustrated Under Ross Levinsohn: Through the Thicket Into New Frontiers
In August 2020, Maven announced that founder Jack Heckman would step down as the company’s CEO. During the leadership transfer, Heckman directly guided Levinsohn on “key strategic and business development initiatives.” In their statement, Maven articulated several goals for their partnership with the new CEO, who simultaneously serves as the CEO of Sports Illustrated. Together, they sought to expand their consumer base and venture into different avenues asSports Illustrated, a trusted and recognizable brand, entered diversified markets with its licensing. Since Levinsohn assumed the CEO title at Sports Illustrated, the company has seen its revenue double from brand licensing. This growth came as the norms of everyday life and the economy were shifting in real time.
The Pandemic Did Not Become a Problem
Under the direction of Ross Levinsohn, Maven tactfully navigated the pandemic, leading both Sports Illustrated and Maven to profit and growth. While the global health crisis impaired or closed many businesses, both of his companies and other members of the SI-Maven coalition developed methods to adap, masterfully traversing the complexities and obstacles that COVID-19 presented for most Americans. Levinsohn took his CEO role seriously, implementing changes to his life and altering his schedule to meet the grueling demands of overseeing two companies with distinct subsidiaries. Without a doubt, Levinsohn is a master of learning from experiences and translating them into his current work ethic.
The Attributes of a Selfless CEO
Throughout his long career, Ross Levinsohn says he has learned patience, an attribute that has helped him effectively collaborate with other companies’ executives and investors. He also described his most valuable trait as CEO of two renowned companies as his ability to listen. In working with many diverse companies, employees, and ideas, Levinsohn found the critical balance needed to not overpower others as a leader. He has demonstrated abilities in the ways Maven, and by extension, Sports Illustrated, has diversified its assets and expanded its licensing.
Together with investment companies, Levinsohn’s companies have ventured into markets such as sportswear and apparel, e-sports, and online gambling. Methodically identifying trends and changes, Ross Levinsohn and the teams he leads have stepped into new frontiers with tangible results.
In all, it is entirely unsurprising – yet no less astonishing – how Ross Levinsohn’s capabilities brought success to both Maven and Sports Illustrated. Given his profound background and evolving roles as leader of two advancing companies, he will undoubtedly continue to reach new milestones throughout his tenure.
