Posted on WorkInSports.com: 9/25/2007
By: Brandon McClung - SportsBusiness Journal
Career Spotlight: Tom Murphy
Murphy adds team perspective to well-rounded career
Tom Murphy has seen the sports industry from all sides: an agency perspective with Advantage International (now Octagon), a league viewpoint with the NFL, a corporate stance with MasterCard and now a team role with the New York Mets. Murphy recently joined the Mets after two seasons with MasterCard, where he helped lead the company’s development and implementation with Major League Baseball and helped launch the MLB Dreams program. Before joining MasterCard, he spent nine years at the NFL, where he secured the league’s substantial agreement with General Motors.
Age: 44
New title: Senior vice president, corporate sponsorships, New York Mets
Previous title: Vice president, sponsorship and entertainment, MasterCard
First job: Grounds crew at a country club
College education: Bachelor of arts, communications, University of Connecticut (1986)
Resides: New Canaan, Conn., with wife Sherri, sons Quentin and Aiden, and daughter Cameron
Grew up: New Canaan
Executive most admired: Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner
Brands most admired: Gatorade and Pepsi
Favorite vacation spot: Martha’s Vineyard
Last book read: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” by J.K. Rowling
Last movie seen: “The Bourne Ultimatum”
Favorite movie: “Caddyshack”
Favorite musicians: U2
What will be the biggest challenge in your new position?
It’s really about the opportunity; it’s about taking both the buy and sell sides and molding them and applying them into my skill set. In my current role, I have the ability to sell and deliver some return on investment for our sponsors.
What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
When I first got out of school, I worked for ... a packaged goods company. So it was moving back home with my parents and jumping into an entry-level position in sports.
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Sitting in my current role with the Mets. For me, having the ability to sit where I am after having worked in three different areas, it is a real professional accomplishment. That and selling the General Motors sponsorship at the NFL are two high points in my professional career
What is your biggest professional disappointment?
Not getting some of the internal promotions with my previous employers. That also has led me to better opportunities — because I didn’t get that job at that point in time, I have made some different moves in my career that have rounded me out.
What career advice do you have for people wanting into the sports industry?
If you ever get the opportunity, then work really hard and never let your dreams be dictated or squelched by others.
This career spotlight is courtesy of the SportsBusiness Journal. CLICK HERE to visit their official website.
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