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Jeremy Watkins, who manages the sports and gaming division at Hiltzik Strategies, is heading to Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., where he will take on the role of SVPcommunications, effective March 6.
Watkins has been with Hiltzik since 2018, most recently serving as a VP. Before that, has was a senior account exec at DKC.
At MSG Sports, Watkins will oversee public relations activities across the company’s portfolio of professional sports assets, including the New York Knicks and New York Rangers franchises. He will also work with MSG Sports leadership to strengthen business priorities and help develop proactive media relations strategies, oversee major announcements and provide counsel for team management. He will report to MSG Sports president and COO David Hopkinson.
“Jeremy’s deep understanding of this organization and the industry will be a tremendous asset to both our teams and business,” said Hopkinson.
In addition to the Knicks and Rangers, MSG Sports operates two development league teams – the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and esports teams through Counter Logic Gaming, a North American esports organization, and Knicks Gaming, an NBA 2K League franchise.
MSG Sports executive chairman James Dolan recently recruited former Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks to handle the controversy surrounding the use of facial recognition technology to keep his legal foes out of the Garden. Hicks’ father, Paul Hicks, formerly ran communications and government affairs at the NFL and is now a partner at FGS Global.
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