Athletes Unlimited has appointed CNN Worldwide and Bloomberg administration veteran Allie Kleva as chief growth officer of the the US-based network of professional women's sports leagues.
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In this newly-created position reporting to CEO and co-founder Jon Patricof, Kleva will oversee strategic communications to increase brand awareness and develop strategic relationships for Athletes Unlimited as it continues to build momentum as a scalable platform for brands amid the explosive growth across women’s sports.
Kleva brings to Athletes Unlimited more than two decades of experience growing highly visible and iconic brands in both the public and private sectors, including long tenures at the City of New York during the Bloomberg administration and for CNN Worldwide during an unprecedented time in world news. She is a seasoned executive with deep experience and has led teams across diverse initiatives to engage and excite audiences and deliver positive social impact.
Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023, Athletes Unlimited has produced significant increases across all key metrics over the past year, including viewership, sponsorship revenue, attendance, merchandise sales and social media engagement. A network of pro women’s softball, volleyball, basketball and lacrosse leagues, Athletes Unlimited features an Advisory Board comprised of an illustrious group of high-profile contributors from the worlds of sports, business and entertainment including basketball legend and ESPN women’s college basketball analyst Sheryl Swoopes, two-time NBA champion and entrepreneur Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman of 35 Ventures; U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team superstar Abby Wambach, among many others.
“At this critical juncture in both the meteoric rise of women’s sports as well as the continued growth of Athletes Unlimited, I couldn’t be happier to welcome Allie to our team,” said Patricof. “Her unique background and perspective will create new connections and opportunities for high-level engagement that will benefit this organization and our incredible athletes for many years to come.”
“I’m thrilled to join Athletes Unlimited at such an exciting moment for women’s sports, where attention and celebration are at an all-time high,” said Kleva. “I’m eager to contribute to the organization’s growth and to celebrate the extraordinary talent and achievements of our amazing athletes. Together, we’ll continue to push boundaries and inspire future generations in the world of sports.”
In her most recent role at CNN, Allie led strategic partnerships and brand alliances to connect the CNN brand, its properties and personalities with new and existing audiences. She led promotional marketing for CNN Films & Series, working on Emmy- and Academy Award-winning properties including Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, RBG and Navalny; and is the founder of CITIZEN BY CNN, the network’s company-wide civic engagement platform encompassing in-person events, digital tools and editorial products.
Prior to CNN, Allie spent nearly a decade working at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, overseeing the development, marketing and promotion of the “Made in NY” brand, and leading efforts to attract film & television production to the City of New York. She led partnership, educational and community outreach activities and was responsible for agency PSA campaigns.
Before joining the Mayor’s Office, Allie spent her early career at New Line Cinema, learning the film business at the mini-major studio during the height of its success.
Allie graduated summa cum laude from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.
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