Fox Hires Francois McGillicuddy From Speed To Head Up FOX Sports Ohio

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

Fox Sports Net has picked Francois McGillicuddy to run its Cleveland-based RSN, FS Ohio, and manage the transition of the recently purchased SportsTime Ohio. As part of the move, Jim Liberatore is leaving the net. Liberatore had been SportsTime Ohio President since its '06 launch. Fox closed its acquisition of STO the last week of '12 for around $235M. McGillicuddy comes to FS Ohio from Speed, where he has worked as VP/Finance & Business Operations since '06. In his new role as FS Ohio Senior VP & GM, McGillicuddy will report to FSN Exec VP Jeff Krolik.

FRANCOIS MCGILLICUDDY NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF FOX SPORTS OHIO

SPEED Executive Assumes New Post February 1

Los Angeles – Francois McGillicuddy, an accomplished executive with extensive experience in television and sports media, has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX Sports Ohio. The announcement was made today by Jeff Krolik, Executive Vice President of FOX Sports Networks, to whom McGillicuddy will report. 

McGillicuddy will oversee all aspects of FOX Sports Ohio’s business, including production, programming, advertising sales, marketing, and team relations, while also working in conjunction with Fox’s affiliate sales and marketing group on distribution issues.

                     

McGillicuddy will also manage the transition of recently acquired SportsTime Ohio into the FOX Sports portfolio of regional sports networks.

McGillicuddy joins FOX Sports Ohio from Fox’s national cable channel SPEED, where he has served as Vice President, Finance & Business Operations since 2006.  In this position, he played a prominent role in decisions regarding ad sales, rights acquisitions, production, technical operations, and other areas.

“We’re pleased to have Francois continue his Fox career at FOX Sports Ohio,” said Krolik.  “We have an outstanding team in place at Ohio, and Francois will be a great addition.  His wealth of experience working with team partners, as well as his business acumen and proven leadership will be a terrific asset to our business.”

Prior to joining SPEED in 2006, McGillicuddy was Vice President of Finance at Rainbow Sports Networks, where he worked with several Fox RSNs, including FOX Sports Ohio, to provide financial guidance in the then-joint venture with Rainbow. 

Before Rainbow, McGillicuddy held the position of Director of Strategic Planning at Madison Square Garden, where he worked on initiatives for all of the company’s assets, including the Knicks and Rangers.

McGillicuddy holds an MBA from Columbia University, an MFA from the University of Alabama, and a BA in Economics from Hobart College. 

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