"That is the real power of sports marketing, that you build up that association, that partnership, both with the athlete but also in the consumer's mind over time."
Andrew Merle has transitioned through different roles in the sports world, from public relations to athlete marketing to sports marketng to now working as the Director of North American Brand and Consumer Marketing at New Balance. In many of these roles, he was working directly with athletes, often as they served as endorsers. In this episode he discusses many facets of that, from athlete recruitment to working with them on activations and promotions. Andrew also describes how he was able to turn an internship while a student into a fulltime job, why he looked to leave Major League Baseball to work on the brand side and how he has brought an entrepreneurial spirit to his work with established organizations.
Listen to the episode here and find show notes below.
Andrew Merle
SET PIECES
Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
Open by Andre Agassi
How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp
Contagious by Jonah Berger