Chris Grancio has 20+ years of general management and marketing experience working at adidas, New Balance and Staples. He is an expert in brand strategy, product development, licensing and merchandising, and sales negotiations. His entire career has been in sports, working with brands, leagues, teams and athletes.
Prior to starting Six Eight Sports, Chris was the chief marketing officer for Independent Sports & Entertainment where he led the strategic vision and directed marketing and branding for the company and its clients. Chris grew the business into new revenue channels, developed corporate partnerships and expanded global brand opportunities for ISE’s clients.
Before that, Chris was general manager of global basketball at Adidas where he led the strategic vision and directed all elements of the basketball category including innovation, product creation, marketing and global merchandising. Chris also oversaw all elements of basketball sports marketing at adidas, managing the 10-year partnership with the National Basketball Association and negotiating more than $500M in athlete endorsements including James Harden, Damian Lillardand Derrick Rose. Earlier in his career, he held marketing and sports sponsorship management positions at Staples and product creation roles at New Balance.
Chris is a sought-after thought leader in the sports business industry. In 2013, he was named one of Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. Chris lives in Hermosa Beach, California with his wife Lauren and two children Anthony and Siena and appreciates time playing golf, watching the Celtics and cheering on both the New York Giants and the New England Patriots – don’t ask (or do).
