NASCAR Names Sean Downes Managing Director, Business Developmen

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NASCAR announced today that Sean Downes has been named managing director, business development. Downes begins his duties with NASCAR today, and is based in the New York office, where he will report to Jim O’Connell, NASCAR chief sales officer. From 2005 to 2009, Downes was NASCAR director of partnership marketing and was responsible for managing a number of official partners including Coca-Cola, Mars and P&G among others.

Downes rejoins NASCAR after spending two years as vice president, corporate hospitality sales for Madison Square Garden, where he secured $200 million in new business and renewals during his tenure. As a senior executive in the MSG Sports Division, he managed a team that was responsible for selling and creating corporate entertainment solutions for more than 250 events per year at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” He was also instrumental in developing and selling unique hospitality assets for the soon-to-be renovated facility and maintained partnerships with more than 30 corporations.

“Sean has always understood the unique value proposition of being an official NASCAR partner,” O’Connell said. “He has a deep knowledge of our industry and has successfully built and maintained strong relationships with Fortune 500 companies while at MSG and throughout his career. Sean will play a key role in helping to open up new categories and attract even more blue chip brands to our sport.”

Prior to joining NASCAR in 2005, Downes was vice president at Strategic Sports Group and was responsible for securing new business for the agency and for managing a portfolio of brands invested in multiple sports properties including NASCAR, NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.

From 1995 through 2004, he held sales and marketing roles at Octagon, ISP Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Jersey Nets.

A graduate of Villanova University; Downes resides in Morristown, N.J., with his wife and three children.

NASCAR PR

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