The Green Bay Packers have named Laura Sankey senior vice president of marketing and sales, Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy announced today. She brings an extensive background in marketing, sales and communications to the new position in the organization.
Sankey will lead the organization's overall marketing efforts and provide strategic direction to all the Packers' revenue generating operations, including marketing, retail operations, and premium sales and guest services.
"We're very pleased to add a person of Laura's caliber to our staff," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy in announcing Sankey's hiring. "She has an excellent background in marketing, including a detailed knowledge of the sports marketing landscape, and also has a deep interest in sports. She understands the unique Packers brand, and is well prepared to lead our coordinated efforts to augment our revenue generation, a key goal in the increasingly competitive NFL, as well as enhance our fan experience."
"I am very excited to join the Packers organization," said Sankey. "The team is an icon in professional sports and possesses a brand that represents the best traditions of the game. Packers fans are among the best in the country and we will continue to strive to give them an outstanding experience and opportunities to strengthen their bond with the team. I look forward to joining the excellent staff and contributing to the success of the organization."
Sankey, 43, arrives in Green Bay with more than 20 years of experience in the marketing field, including management of sports sponsorships while with Qwest Communications and Coors Brewing Company.
As executive vice president of marketing and communications at Qwest Communications in Denver (2006-07), Sankey oversaw a staff of more than 200 employees and developed marketing and branding strategy for all consumer and business-to-business initiatives. She also led the sponsorship team that managed relationships with Qwest Field (Seattle Seahawks) and Qwest Center Omaha (Creighton University, University of Nebraska-Omaha), as well as partnerships with the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Twins, among other sports entities.
Prior to her tenure at Qwest, Sankey served in a variety of marketing and communications roles during her career at Coors Brewing Company (1993-2006). As vice president of marketing, she led all national marketing, advertising and brand building programs for a variety of Coors products. She also oversaw the relationships with the NFL and NASCAR, as well as various rodeo sponsorship programs.
Sankey's career experience also includes marketing, branding and consulting positions with Procter & Gamble (1986-89) and the Marketing Corporation of America (1991-92). She earned a bachelor's degree in 1986 from Dartmouth College and a master's degree in 1991 from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Born Sept. 6, 1964, in Cincinnati, Sankey was a fan of the Bengals and Reds in her youth. More recently, while a resident of Denver, she and her family at one time owned or shared season tickets for all four of Denver's pro teams: Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. She and her husband, Kevin, have three children: daughter, Logan, 10, and sons Nolan, 8, and Colton, 6.
