WILTON, CT (August 12, 2002) - Velocity Sports & Entertainment today announced that Harlan Stone, one of the leading executives in the sports/entertainment marketing industry, has joined the agency. Stone was CEO of Momentum Worldwide, a division of McCann-Erickson World Group, one of the world's largest marketing communications companies.

As a Principal at Velocity, Stone's expertise will reinforce Velocity's consulting, promotional and event management expertise, further strengthening the overall capabilities of the three year old agency. Stone will spearhead Velocity's efforts in marketing and promotional areas related to Television Packaging, and Property and Event Consulting.

"I could not be more excited than to join Velocity," said Stone. "I've enjoyed my experiences since I left Octagon and in particular am grateful for the opportunities afforded me at Momentum and its parent McCann-Erickson. However, my career roots are in entrepreneurial enterprises and I was inspired by the chance to once again be in the sports and entertainment marketing world, day to day."

Since its inception in 1999, Velocity has been celebrated as one of the hottest young agencies in the new millennium. It has enjoyed dramatic growth in the marketplace and today boasts revenues of more than $7 million and a Fortune 500 client list including Cingular, FedEx and IBM. Last month, Velocity was ranked 19th in the PROMO 100 - the highest ranked sports/entertainment agency in the rankings and the largest one year jump in the history of the PROMO 100 (80 spots).

As one of the most influential sports marketing executives over the past two decades, Stone brings more than 20 years experience to the agency with diverse expertise complementary to Velocity's management team of Dave Grant, Alex Nieroth, Mike Reisman and Bob Wilhelmy.

"This is a significant day for Velocity," said agency Principal Mike Reisman. "We are being joined by one of the real superstars of our business. More importantly, we believe our personal and professional values align in a manner that will provide tremendous strength and added value to Team Velocity and its clients."

At Momentum, Stone was responsible for a 1,600-person global promotional/event marketing agency and fueled revenue growth to approximately $200 million. Prior to Momentum, Stone spent 14 years at Advantage International (renamed Octagon in 1998), where he spearheaded the dramatic domestic growth of that company from an 11-person agency with $1.5 million in revenue to a 175-person agency with $20 million in revenue.

Stone also has a strong history with entrepreneurial enterprises, including his own sports marketing shop, Stone Sports, which was acquired by GD/T Sports in 1985. In 2000, he was hired as CEO of internet start-up mysportsguru.com and just prior to moving to Momentum, he successfully negotiated mysportsguru.com's sale to myteam.com during the internet company shakeout of 2000.

Stone will join Velocity effective September 16, 2002 in its new Wilton, CT headquarters.

About Velocity Sports & Entertainment

Velocity Sports & Entertainment is the leading marketing agency that specializes in helping clients maximize the value of their sports and entertainment sponsorship efforts The agency - with more than 50 employees and offices in Wilton, CT; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA and Washington, D.C. - assists clients in all aspects of the sponsorship marketing process including strategic planning, negotiation, program development, leveraging, execution, customer hospitality and pre-/post- event evaluation. Velocity was recently ranked 19th by PROMO Magazine in its annual "PROMO 100" which lists the top 100 promotional agencies in the nation. Velocity was the highest ranked sports and entertainment agency in the rankings, and realized the largest one year jump in the history of the rankings (80 spots).

Back to Press Releases