Tennis Channel Appoints John Ward as Director of Advertising Sales, Midwest and Central Regions

Tennis Channel has appointed advertising sales veteran John Ward to the position of director of advertising sales, Midwest and Central regions. Based in Chicago, he reports to both Allison Bodenmann, vice president, head of advertising, and John Harris, vice president, Southeast and Central regions, for Tennis Channel.

In this position, Ward manages linear and digital sponsor-revenue growth for Tennis Channel across an 18-state territory. He is overseeing the opening of a new network office in downtown Chicago and expanding the channel’s ad-sales footprint into such markets as Detroit, Houston and Dallas. Ward brings close to 20 years of Midwest-based advertising sales experience to the position.

“John’s longtime experience representing both single- and multisport cable networks like Golf Channel and the NBC Sports Group, as well as customizing sponsorship platforms for corporate clients makes him a great fit for Tennis Channel,” said Bodenmann. “We’re excited to have him on the ground for us in Chicago.”

Ward joins Tennis Channel after spending the past 10 years as an account executive at NBC Universal/NBC Sports Group, where he represented three national cable networks (Golf Channel, NBCSN and NHL Network), as well as an extensive portfolio of sports properties running across NBC’s broadcast-network flagship, such as theFrench Open, Super Bowl and Ryder Cup. Before NBC Universal/NBC Sports Group, he spent 10 years in ad sales at Court TV, AMC Networks, A&E and Starcom Worldwide.

A graduate of Ball State University, Ward earned his MBA in marketing from Loyola University Chicago. He and his wife reside in Chicago with their children J.T., Payton and Hailey.