WME | IMG announced Monday that Mark Shapiro and Ioris Francini have been named co-presidents of the company.
“Mark and Ioris have been great partners these past few years, helping us integrate WME and IMG, generate organic growth, and expand into new business lines and geographies,” said Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, co-CEOs of WME | IMG. “WME | IMG is a strong, dynamic business with exciting opportunities ahead, and Mark and Ioris combine the vision and expertise to help the company succeed in this next chapter.”
Shapiro previously served as chief content officer and Francini had been president of IMG Media. As co-presidents, the pair will oversee the company’s media, events, fashion, licensing, global partnerships, original content, IMG College, IMG Academy, The Miss Universe Organization, Professional Bull Riders, and Frieze businesses, in addition to the company’s new China subsidiary.
Prior to joining WME | IMG in 2014, Shapiro was CEO of Dick Clark Productions. From 2006 to 2010, he served as director, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Before joining Six Flags, Shapiro spent twelve years at ESPN, where he oversaw both production and programming.
Francini joined IMG in 2003 as head of sales for media in Italy before relocating to London in 2007 to lead sales across EMEA. He was promoted to executive vice president of IMG Media in 2012 and then to president of IMG Media in 2014. Previously, Francini served as head of legal and business affairs at European film production company MovieWeb.
Shapiro will continue to be based in New York, with Francini in London.