CHARLES N. BESSER

Charlie Besser is the founder (1986), President, and CEO of Intersport, Inc., a recognized industry leader in sports and entertainment media and marketing.

Mr. Besser’s Emmy Award-winning programming career includes the creation, production, distribution, and packaging of thousands of hours of television programming across ABC, ESPN, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as many prominent cable networks.  Under his direction, Intersport has become the leader in brand-integrated sports television, creating specials and series for many of the world’s most recognized brands.

In 2002, Mr. Besser launched Intersport’s Event Marketing Group that now executes well over 1,000 events per year.  The Events Group helps numerous clients with sponsorships of and activation plans for events surrounding the Super Bowl, World Series, PGA Tour, Bowl Championship Series, NCAA Final Four, Major League Baseball All-Star Game, US Open (tennis) and the Summer and Winter X Games.  The division also creates signature proprietary events seen on national television, as well as grassroots event marketing programs that include mobile marketing tours, golf events, and college spring break experiential programs.

In 2007, Mr. Besser directed Intersport’s launch of three (3) digital networks.  CelebTV.com, an entertainment video news service, earned more than 300 million video downloads in its first year across the CelebTV.com syndication network.  In addition, a music news and information channel and a sports news and information channel of made-for-mobile programming were launched exclusively on Sprint cell phones.  In January 2008, Intersport was presented with the first NATPE Mobile++ Award for production excellence in cell phone content.

Charlie is a graduate of Marquette University, where he played varsity golf and received the prestigious McCahill Award as the University’s outstanding student athlete.  He is also a graduate of Marquette University Law School.

Charlie lives in Chicago with his wife Rebecca and their five children.  As a family, the Bessers are committed to many civic and charitable efforts, including:  the Keshet Special Education Project and Teach For America, where Charlie serves as Board of Trustees Co-chair and Board Director, respectively; Special Olympics; Misericordia Heart of Mercy; The Joffrey Ballet and the North Dearborn Association, where Rebecca is a director at each; and The Latin School of Chicago

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