Archey to lead UK Sports and Campus Marketing

LEXINGTON Greenup native Paul J. Archey, the influential Major League Baseball (MLB) executive who oversaw MLB’s international growth and led the initiative to create the World Baseball Classic while the head of MLB, International, is coming home to his roots to lead an innovative new marketing effort at the University of Kentucky with its partner JMI Sports.

The university and JMI Sports recently announced a 15-year, $210 million multimedia rights agreement that extends beyond athletics to incorporate the entire university.

 “It feels wonderful to be coming home,” said Archey, who graduated from Greenup County High School and Georgetown College. “I had a terrific experience at Major League Baseball. I will greatly miss the relationships I developed during my time there. I’m very proud of what we accomplished and I know I’m leaving it in good hands.

“Now, I’m looking forward to putting that global experience to work for the benefit of UK and all my fellow Kentuckians for whom the university is so important.”

Mitch Barnhart, UK’s Director of Athletics, said, “We are thrilled to have someone of Paul Archey’s caliber at the very highest levels of the sports world bring his sophistication and talents to Kentucky. Paul’s decision to come here reflects his commitment to Big Blue Nation, and it illustrates the high-level commitment JMI Sports has made as our long-term partner.”

Under the agreement, JMI Sports established UK Sports & Campus Marketing, of which Archey will become president. This team will work as an extension of the university to maximize the value of UK’s assets, while developing relationships with sponsors, fans, alumni, and students through activities ranging from broadcasts to sponsorships and more. JMI Sports is also putting in place a groundbreaking “Total Campus Marketing” program to capitalize on the immense value the entire university has as a nationally recognized brand.

Erik Judson, CEO of JMI Sports, said, “We have known and admired Paul for many years and we witnessed his exceptional work first hand when the Padres and Petco Park hosted the first World Baseball Classic Championship in 2006. His vision in expanding Major League Baseball into international markets is exactly the kind of creative thinking and focus on opportunity we know he will bring to Kentucky. Paul will be instrumental in delivering great results to our valued partner, the University of Kentucky.”

“Paul is a worldwide industry leader, an innovator and entrepreneur with many significant and lasting successes, and an excellent marketing executive,” said Tom Stultz, president of JMI Sports. “His unique combination of experience and passion for UK athletics and his home state make him the perfect leader for UK Sports and Campus Marketing. It also helps that he bleeds Kentucky Blue.”

Archey took over MLB’s international operations in 1999, opening offices in Beijing, London, Sydney and Tokyo while expanding MLB’s global broadcast exposure to more than 200 countries. He has also served as the president of World Baseball Classic, Inc., chairman of the Australian Baseball League and head of MLB’s owners International Committee. His signature initiative has been creation of the enormously successful World Baseball Classic, which in 2013 alone attracted more than 800,000 spectators and drew 200 million TV viewers worldwide. He also was responsible for developing the MLB’s International Play Plan that has led to games being played in China, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela and elsewhere.

“On behalf of all his colleagues at Major League Baseball, I want to thank Paul for his many contributions to our game during a time of extraordinary global growth,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “Paul was integral to the World Baseball Classic and many other events that have allowed Baseball to flourish as a truly international game. While it is difficult to see Paul move on, I am happy for my friend and congratulate him on a dream position in his home state.  I wish Paul and his family all the best.”

 Archey has won numerous awards, including Sports Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” Baseball America’s “10 to Watch,” and the Harold J. VanderZwaag Distinguished Alumnus award from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, from which he earned his M.S. in sports management.

Archey earned his B.S. in marketing and finance from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. He currently resides in Darien, Connecticut with his wife, Deena, and their three children, Jake age 22 (Bucknell University), Megan age 20 (Wake Forest University) and Peter age 18 (Darien High School).

Archey to lead UK Sports and Campus Marketing