Mark Tatum

Mark Tatum was appointed NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer on Feb. 1, 2014, following unanimous approval by the NBA Board of Governors.

Tatum, who joined the NBA in 1999, is responsible for the NBA’s business operations, including leading the league’s international efforts. He oversees the Global Partnerships, Marketing, Communications, Events, Global Strategy & Innovation and Team Marketing & Business Operations departments in addition to the NBA G League.

Through his leadership skills and extensive industry relationships, Tatum has been instrumental in guiding and growing the league’s business for more than two decades.

Since becoming Deputy Commissioner and COO, he has helped lead many historic initiatives, including the first NBA games in Africa and India, the launch of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) – the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America – the launch of four NBA Academies around the world for top prospects from outside the U.S., and the debut of the Jr. NBA Global Championship, a first-of-its-kind global youth basketball tournament.

Additionally, Tatum spearheaded the NBA’s groundbreaking jersey sponsorship program to feature corporate logos on team jerseys, established an entitlement partnership with Gatorade for the NBA G League, and secured a global merchandising and marketing partnership with Nike, making it the exclusive on-court uniform and apparel provider of the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League.

Prior to assuming his current role, Tatum served as Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships, where he managed the league’s extensive list of marketing and media partners and was a key driver of new and expanded partnerships with many leading companies, including American Express, Anheuser-Busch, Kia and State Farm. In addition, Tatum was responsible for developing USA Basketball’s marketing plan and sales strategy, and its overall relationship with the NBA.

Since joining the league, Tatum has held several positions, including Senior Vice President and Vice President of Business Development, Senior Director and Group Manager of Marketing Properties, and Director of Marketing Partnerships.

Prior to joining the NBA, Tatum worked for Major League Baseball in Corporate Sponsorship and Marketing, the Clorox Company as a Regional Sales Manager, Pepsi-Cola Company in their Sports Marketing department, and Procter & Gamble in sales management.

In 2016, Tatum was named to Forbes’ list of the Top 25 Most Influential Minorities in Sports. SportsBusiness Journal named Tatum to its list of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business in 2014 and 2015. For three straight years (2006, 2007 and 2008), he was also honored by the SportsBusiness Journal with a Forty Under 40 Award, making him an entrant into the publication’s Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame.

Tatum sits on numerous boards including USA Basketball, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, General Motors, LA 2028 Summer Olympics and the Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors. He is Chair of the Harvard Business School Club of New York and a member of the Executive Leadership Council, a national organization that empowers African-American corporate leaders to make impactful contributions.

Tatum received a B.S. in Business Management from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard University.