Jamie Spencer Joins TurnkeyZRG as Managing Director, Revenue
Jamie Spencer joins TurnkeyZRG as a Managing Director within the Revenue functional practice. Based in the Twin Cities, he brings nearly three decades of professional sports experience and specializes in senior executive searches across all facets of revenue, with a particular specialty in Consumer and Premium Revenue & Service and Business Intelligence & Analytics. Spencer will also serve as a talent advisory specialist across all functional areas of sports and entertainment, assisting individuals, teams and organizations redefine their executive potential, navigate change, and develop a high-performance mindset and culture.
“When it comes to achieving success in business, I’m a firm believer that it’s the people and their ability to collaborate as a team that makes the difference. I have always enjoyed the challenge of recruiting and developing individuals and leaders as an executive and practitioner in the industry”, said Spencer. “The opportunity to join forces with the team at TurnkeyZRG and Len Perna, and work on a much broader scale with colleagues across the sports and entertainment industry aligns perfectly with my background and passion. TurnkeyZRG’s reputation and proven track record in sourcing talent around the world are what drew me in. They are the best in the business, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such an experienced team”, added Spencer.
“Jamie Spencer has been a top revenue executive for 25+ years – especially in tickets, premium and season ticket holder programs,” said Len Perna, Chairman & CEO of TurnkeyZRG. Jamie is joining TurnkeyZRG as our Managing Director to lead all searches and consulting in tickets, premium hospitality and building best-in-class membership programs. Team Turnkey is built with practitioners like Jamie, who have hands-on experience in the trenches, building high-performing teams, strategies, and programs. That’s why our placements in sports are so sticky. Our placements stick because our recruiters did the jobs they now place,” said Perna.
Jamie Spencer most recently served as Executive Vice President of Revenue for the Chicago Blackhawks, where he was responsible for all functions of revenue including Ticket and Membership Sales, Corporate Partnerships, Retail, Amateur Hockey, and Fifth Third Arena Operations (Chicago Blackhawks Community Rink). Jamie guided the revenue department out of the COVID-19 pandemic and brought a new cultural philosophy to revenue that helped shape an incredibly successful model that focused on the idea that selling tickets and caring for fans is an all-organization initiative – a mindset that helped the Blackhawks set a new all-time regular-season gate revenue record last season and drove nearly a 90% increase in retail revenue over the last three years. Additionally, he set the foundation for a “fewer, bigger, better” approach to corporate partnerships and launched several new youth hockey initiatives, including the Blackhawks Arena Network, Rivalry Series, and first-ever NIHL Youth Hockey Championships at the United Center.
Prior to the Blackhawks, Spencer served as Executive Vice President of Business Development for the Minnesota Wild where he spearheaded new business ventures including Herbie's on the Park, a quintessential social house inspired by the legacy of Herb Brooks; stateofhockey.com, a Minnesota youth hockey-inspired website; and led strategic planning and construction of TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center, the Wild's first-ever dedicated practice facility. From 2011-14, Spencer served as Executive Vice President of Sales for the Tampa Bay Lightning where he was a force behind tripling the season ticket holder base and more than doubled overall ticket revenue and retail sales. He is one of the founding staff members that helped launch the Minnesota Wild in 1997, where he was largely responsible for cultivating an avid fan base and reputation for delivering a world-class fan experience.
A hockey player himself, Spencer served as a captain for the Wisconsin Badgers (1991-95) and continues to use his competitive spirit for good, championing efforts to raise funds and create awareness for Special Olympics Minnesota and the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.
About TurnkeyZRG
TurnkeyZRG is the global leader in talent advisory and executive search in sports, music and entertainment with more than 1,800 placements since 1996. TurnkeyZRG has placed CEOs, Presidents, Commissioners, and other executives, spanning all functional areas into numerous organizations such as MLB, NHL, MLS, PREMIER LEAGUE, NWSL, AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, NASCAR, Indy Car, tennis, golf, college sports, etc. Further, TurnkeyZRG was recently ranked as the 4th most influential player in college sports, in consideration of the breadth and depth of work conducted across the intercollegiate athletics landscape. Since being acquired by ZRG in 2020, TurnkeyZRG has experienced tremendous growth from implementing ZRG’s data-driven, tech-driven talent process.
About ZRG
ZRG is a global search and talent advisory firm with 30+ offices on five continents that provides people solutions for our clients' most complex talent issues. Core offerings include revolutionary, data-based, executive search focusing on senior leadership around the world. ZRG’s suite of on-demand (interim) talent offerings help fill open roles and address project-based work with specialized talent. The firm’s consulting and advisory solutions focus on key issues like “culture fit,” strategic alignment, coaching, and sales optimization. Visit the company’s new website ZRGpartners.com.
ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies hire and manage talent. ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent. The company’s digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to dramatically deliver executive searches quicker and with proven better results.
Today, with the help of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners, ZRG is among the fastest-growing firms in the search industry and provides a full suite of retained search, on-demand talent, and consulting and advisory solutions across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia.