James Pearce Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, California, United States

Greater New York City Area

➢ Provided leadership and management across the organization with a focus on strategy development, innovation, and operational execution.➢ Led departments responsible for event management, marketing, creative, ticketing, broadcast production and fight operations.➢ Developed operational infrastructure including systems, processes, organizational structure, and personnel designed for rapid growth.

Greater New York City Area

➢ Directed the planning, management, and delivery of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) providing oversight for 34 functional areas, 11 competition venues in 5 countries, 14 training camps in 7 countries, and coordination of 28 participating teams.➢ Elevated the WBC to be the seventh highest attended ‘national team’ sports event in the world with a total attendance of 1,086,720 in 2017, an increase of 23% over the 2013 event ➢ Generated significant fan engagement growth as global tv viewership reached 240 million, online traffic rose by 41%, and online merchandise sales jumped by 50%.➢ Drove up 2017 tournament revenue by 20% by collaborating with the media, sponsorship, and licensing groups to maximize business partner activation opportunities and increase value across all areas of the event.➢ Controlled the WBC's $80 million operating budget and maintained spending below 2009 levels (through 2013 and 2017) by creating efficiences and negotiating greater value from venues and vendors.➢ Coordinated the work of a cross-functional team of more than 250 MLB and MLB Players Association staff working across all functional areas of the WBC.➢ Crafted and implemented the expansion of the WBC from a 16-team to a 28-team tournament and increased the roster of host cities from 7 up to 11.➢ Negotiated agreements with the primary tournament stakeholders (MLBPA, the World Baseball Softball Confederation, and the Japan and Korea professional leagues), all host venues, major vendors, and event partners.

Greater New York City Area

➢ Developed MLB’s international event strategy and directed cross-functional planning and execution of all international game events, collaborating with internal departments, external stakeholders, business partners, and vendors.➢ Secured MLB’s most ambitious schedule of events ever during the last round of collective bargaining with the MLB Players Association resulting in a 300% increase in planned games for the 2017-2021 period. ➢ Awarded multiple accolades, most notably Australia’s ‘Event of the Year’, for the 2014 Sydney Opening Series and its lauded transformation of the iconic Sydney Cricket ground.➢ In less than 90 days, navigated complex legal, diplomatic, security and resource issues with the White House and Cuban government to deliver the celebrated exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National team in Havana. US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro jointly attended the game as a major focal event of Obama’s historic 2016 visit to the country. ➢ Staged an inspirational and morale-boosting 2-game MLB series in San Juan, Puerto Rico in April 2018. The series was the first major event to take place on the island following its devastation by Hurricane Maria.

Greater New York City Area

➢ In only 8 months, designed the organizational structure and executed the operational roll-out of the WBC, including the development of function area project plans, budgets, staffing plans, operating requirements, procedures, and policies.➢ Managed an internal research program to determine the viability of the ‘world cup’-style event. The program comprised comparative event research and financial analysis based on various business models, operating frameworks, and event formats. ➢ Developed WBC’s ‘global platform’ hosting model incorporating both international and US venues as hosts for the tournament. Managed the venue selection process, document production, and negotiation of venue agreements. ➢ Formulated the operating framework and guided the drafting of agreements governing the participation of all the key tournament stakeholders including the MLBPA, baseball’s world governing body, and the Japan and Korea leagues.➢ Working closely with MLB’s HR department, developed job descriptions and compensation packages and managed the recruitment of more than 20 temporary staff for each WBC. ➢ Oversaw venue planning consisting of ballpark readiness and operations, media and broadcasting, IT, team services, airport operations, transportation, accommodation, security, competition management, and business partner integration.

Greater New York City Area

➢ Led the annual planning and execution of MLB’s international event business. ➢ Developed annual business plans, formulated event project plans, drafted and managed event budgets, directed cross-functional internal planning, and negotiated event agreements with event promoters and vendors. ➢ Restructured international event requirements and operating procedures and overhauled event boilerplate agreements with MLB’s General and Deputy General Counsels. ➢ Produced and operated MLB regular season series, exhibition games, and All-Star Tours in Japan, China, Taiwan, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Greater New York City Area

➢ Managed the execution of 15+ market and game development programs in 40+ countries that built brand awareness, connected MLB with new fans, and increased new baseball participation in those markets.➢ As head of the international market development team, drafted annual business plans, managed department annual budget (~$3 million), and led a team of seven full-time and part-time employees.➢ Overhauled the operation of multiple programs, defined new operating procedures, established new policies, and increased efficiencies by introducing IT solutions to automate administration.➢ Managed event planning and execution of MLB regular season series, exhibition games and All-Star Tours in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Japan.

London, United Kingdom

➢ As part of a two-person team, re-established MLB’s operating presence in the EMEA region by broadening permanent ties to the European business community and expanding operations into Africa.➢ Managed all market development activities across the region including the planning and delivery of experiential activations, game development programs, and marketing communications initiatives.➢ Acted as MLB’s primary liaison and development advisor to national baseball federations in EMEA.

London, United Kingdom

Postgraduate Diploma (Distinction), Marketing

B.A. (Hons), American Studies

B.A. (Hons), American Studies