The Lakers continue to make changes to their business operations under Mark Walter.
The franchise on Monday announced the hiring of Ryan Kantor as the organization’s vice president of global partnerships, which is a newly created role.
Kantor will lead sponsorship revenue generation, overseeing sales strategy and driving new business across both domestic and international markets.
He most recently worked with the Clippers, the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome as the director of corporate sponsorships.
Kantor was responsible for “closing large-scale deals to maximize revenue for both sports and music properties, leveraging premium assets to drive growth in strategic categories,” according to the Lakers.
Before working for the Clippers, Kantor, who’s a graduate of USC, was the Dodgers’ director of global sponsorships, continuing the links between the Lakers and Dodgers since Walter, who also owns the Dodgers, officially became the majority owner of the Lakers in the fall.
Kantor had multiple roles for the Dodgers from 2012-18 before working for the Ducks for three years (April 2018-May 2021), before working for the Dodgers again for two years (May 2021-July 2023).
The Lakers hired former Lon Rosen, who also worked for the Dodgers, as the franchise’s president of business operations in February.
“The Lakers are one of the most valuable brands in sports and entertainment with fans all around the world, and when we realize that value with global sponsorship revenue, everyone benefits,” Rosen said in a statement.
“Ryan has a proven track record in corporate partnerships and new business development with Southern California sports teams and venues. He brings a well-rounded and deep understanding of the West Coast sports and entertainment landscape and how Los Angeles brands translate worldwide. His results-driven leadership and innovative sales strategies will drive long-term growth for the Lakers.”
