Joe Pierce has been named senior vice president and general counsel for AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE). Pierce will replace Mike Egan, who will retire from the general counsel role December 31, 2020. Egan will continue to advise the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and on certain transitional matters in a limited capacity moving forward.
Pierce comes to AMBSE from Hornets Sports and Entertainment in Charlotte, NC, where he spent seven years as senior vice president and chief legal officer, overseeing legal and business administration for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and operations of Charlotte’s Spectrum Center Arena. Pierce’s extensive experience and background across broad industries including broadcast media, financial services, team sports, technology and venture capital, as well as holding a fundamental belief in core values, made him a natural choice for the organization. Serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, Pierce will counsel and advise across all areas of the organization.
Prior to joining the Hornets organization, Pierce served as senior vice president and associate general counsel, global marketing and corporate affairs for Bank of America Corporation where he led negotiations for deals and licensing agreements for Bank of America’s sponsorship properties including the NFL, Major League Baseball, PGA Tour and NASCAR. Pierce’s experience also includes business and legal affairs at Comcast Sports Television Group where he led negotiations for television rights and multi-platform media and sponsorship agreements for professional league as well as collegiate sports media rights. Pierce holds a JD/MBA from University of Pennsylvania Law School and The Wharton School of Business and did undergraduate work at Georgetown University.
“We are honored to have had Mike with us and are incredibly proud of his accomplishments while at AMBSE. He has been an admired colleague for all of us and will be missed,” says Steve Cannon, CEO, AMB Sports and Entertainment. “We are likewise very excited and fortunate to have Joe join our team. His accomplishments with the Hornets and Spectrum Center as well as his previous organizations will bring a breadth of experience in a variety of industries that will be valuable as we continue to innovate and grow our businesses. He will be a tremendous asset to the entire AMBSE portfolio.”
“AMB Sports and Entertainment is an organization driven by a set of core values that have led to tremendous success and continues to set the bar for the sports industry,” says Pierce. “I’m excited to be introduced to a new, diverse portfolio of businesses and look forward to joining these innovative leaders to help shape the organization and grow its businesses in new and creative ways.”
