Posted on WorkInSports.com: 9/8/2006
By: SportsBusiness Journal Staff
Thomson veteran Singer eager to tell IMG’s story
Jane Singer comes to IMG from The Thomson Corp. to, among other responsibilities, help the company expand its global brand. Her resume includes stops at LAI Worldwide and Tambrands Inc., and she was inducted into the Academy of Women Achievers in 1995. As IMG exits the representation of team sports athletes, Singer spoke to SportsBusiness Journal staff writer Brandon McClung about the firm’s new direction and her position at the company.
Age: 53
New title: Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Relations, IMG Worldwide
Previous job title: Vice President, Corporate Communications, The Thomson Corp.
First job: Student intern at Burke Marketing Research
College education: Bachelor of Arts, Marketing, University of Denver (1975); MBA, quantitative analysis and marketing, University of Cincinnati (1977)
Resides: Ramsey, N.J., with husband Martin and children Max and Alison
Grew up: Craig, CO.
Executive most admired: Andrea Jung, Avon Products, and Omar Minaya, New York Mets
Brand most admired: Apple
Last book read: “The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life” by Twyla Tharp
What will be the biggest challenge in your new position?
Developing a simple but compelling way to externally convey the breadth of IMG’s global resources, experience, capabilities and vision for the future.
What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
Leaving consumer-products-oriented Tambrands for the B2B industry at Thomson was a big change — going from mass marketing to one-on-one relationship building.
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Bringing together dozens of diverse businesses under a single global umbrella brand at Thomson — a leading information services provider — to maximize the value of the company. When I began the branding program, I met resistance from some entrepreneurial business leaders who were concerned they were losing their unique identity. Fortunately, as we worked together, they developed an understanding of the value of what we were doing.
What is your biggest professional disappointment?
When I worked in consumer products in the 1990s, I was part of a management team that had to close manufacturing plants and lay off good people. It was a difficult time but taught me some important lessons to try to avoid repeating in the future.
What is one story you are continuing to watch in sports today?
I’ve been a big tennis fan since the Chris Evert-Jimmy Connors days, and I am enjoying watching the current Federer-Nadal rivalry. I hope it goes on for years.
This career spotlight is courtesy of the SportsBusiness Journal. CLICK HERE to visit their official website.
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