Excel Sports Management has a new head of content: Ryan Holcomb.
The sports agency that represents talent, brands and properties has brought in Holcomb to join its media division, Excel Media, to lead the way in developing original content and programming for the company and its clients. He will live in Los Angeles.
Holcomb moves on to the newly created position of the World Surf League, where he served as executive VP of WSL Studios. During his tenure, he led WSL’s content division in developing programs, concepts and running branded content. His credits there include ABCs The ultimate surfer, and developing and hosting a seven-part series on the WSL’s Championship Tour on Apple TV+, in partnership with Box to Box Productions. Holcomb is an executive producer on that series, Make or breakwhich is currently available on the streamer with a second season in the offing.
For WSL, Holcomb ran his own production company, Tower 2 Prods., which spawned projects at MTV, WEtv, and CMT and went on to series on the Tyler Farr starrer Verizon Go90’s A little too far and two series with E!, The platinum life and Run it like Disick. During a stint at Lionsgate as a senior VP of development, Holcomb worked on shows like OWN’s Deion’s Family PlaybookGSNs family tradeBETs DeSean Jackson: Home TeamTruTVs Way Out West and TBSs The good life of Cee-Lo Green. His resume also includes Rogue Atlas Prods., WME, and eOne Entertainment.
Holcomb arrives at Excel on the heels of two major docuseries that focus on the lives and careers of two of his most famous clients: Peacock’s Cool under pressure about legendary NFL star Joe Montana and ESPNs The captain about legendary MLB star Derek Jeter. Headquartered in New York, Excel has offices in LA, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and London and the agency represents clients in basketball, baseball, golf, football and individual sports, while also working with clients in hospitality, brand marketing and creative and experiential.
Excel founder and president Jeff Schwartz said of Holcomb’s appointment, “Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge to the content space and insight into how to shape an idea to make it interesting for platforms and viewers alike. We’re seeing exponential growth in the possibilities.” for athletes to connect with fans and the world outside their sport through compelling stories and shared interests. With Ryan’s experience and our vast roster of talent, there are endless ideas to bring to life.”