Sports and Entertainment Executive Named College of Communication Outstanding Alumnus

AUSTIN, Texas—April 1, 2009—Sports and entertainment executive Mark S. Pannes has been named the 2008-2009 College of Communication Outstanding Alumnus.

“It’s a tremendous honor and quite humbling to receive this prestigious award,” said Pannes, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 1991. “The College of Communication continues to go from strength to strength as one of the top higher educational institutions in the world and it’s a privilege to continue to be a part of it.”

As director, sport for HSBC Private Bank, Pannes oversees the development and management of its Global Sports Group, which delivers comprehensive banking, tax advice and wealth management services to sports industry professionals and organizations around the world. He also is one of three trustees for the Global Sports Foundation, the grant-providing arm of Beyond Sport, the not-for profit initiative headed by former Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair, which uses sport to drive social change globally.

Prior to joining HSBC, he was directeur general executif of the major league professional basketball club, Paris Basket Racing, in Paris, France, where he oversaw a 40 percent increase in ticket sales and worked with the French government on the 2012 Olympic Games bid. Previously, he founded and served as managing partner for the sports and entertainment consultancy Skilo Brand and was the New York Knicks’ chief marketing officer during a decade at Madison Square Garden when the team established the longest consecutive game sellout streak in professional sports (427 games).

Pannes earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communication with special honors and as a William Randolph Hearst Fellow from The University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law, graduating a year ahead of his class. He lives in London, England with his wife, Pam, and their three children, Kate, Nick and Larry.

Pannes will be recognized during the College of Communication Honors Day Convocation at 10:30 a.m., April 5, at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.

The Outstanding Alumnus Award is given each year to a College of Communication graduate who has made outstanding contributions not only to his or her profession and society. Prior recipients have included Tex Schramm and Lady Bird Johnson.

###

Contact:
Erin Geisler
512-475-8071