Entrepreneur

Ross Levinsohn: The Visionary CEO Reshaping Sports Illustrated and Publishing Business

Ross LevinsohnRoss Levinsohn is a media and communications veteran with a track record of transforming traditional media companies into profitable digital enterprises. He currently serves as the Sports Illustrated CEO and The Arena Group, formerly Maven, where he leads a strategic overhaul of both companies’ operations.

Levinsohn’s career began in the 1990s where he held executive positions at CBS Sportsline, HBO, and Fox Interactive Media. He is best known for his tenure as CEO of Yahoo in 2012, where he implemented a comprehensive plan to revive the company’s fortunes, which included a shift towards video content and mobile technology.

In 2019, he joined The Arena Group, an online publishing platform that had acquired Sports Illustrated, one of the most iconic sports publications in the world. Levinsohn immediately set about modernizing Sports Illustrated’s operations, transforming it from a struggling print magazine to a successful digital brand.

Under Levinsohn’s leadership, Sports Illustrated has undergone a significant transformation. The publication has expanded its digital footprint, launching new platforms and partnerships, including SI Kids and SI Gambling. It has also diversified its content, focusing more on video, podcasts, and live events. The result is a revitalized brand that has seen its online audience grow exponentially.

Levinsohn’s success as Sports Illustrated CEO has not gone unnoticed. In 2021, he was appointed CEO of The Arena Group, where he is leading a strategic shift towards a focus on sports and finance content. The company has already made significant acquisitions under his leadership, including The Street’s financial news website and the media company Parade.

Levinsohn’s vision for The Arena Group is to create a media powerhouse that can compete with ESPN and Bleacher Report. He is betting on the power of high-quality content to attract and retain audiences, and his track record suggests that he is on the right track.

Ross Levinsohn is a visionary CEO with a proven track record of transforming traditional media companies into thriving digital enterprises. His leadership at Sports Illustrated and The Arena Group is reshaping the publishing industry, and he is showing that there is still room for growth and innovation in this ever-evolving field.