Washington D.C., July, 13, 2023 – Winners Alliance, the for-profit affiliate of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Winston as its President. With his background as the former Chief Licensing Officer and Head of Partner Development & College at OneTeam Partners, Mr. Winston brings extensive expertise in group licensing programs and forging partnerships for athletes. Recognized as a co-architect of OneTeam and a leader in revenue generation for athletes, including as the President of the NFL Players Association, Mr. Winston’s experience will be invaluable in his new role. He will also serve as a Senior Advisor to Ahmad Nassar, the Executive Director of the PTPA and CEO of Winners Alliance.
“Eric’s tireless advocacy for athletes has had a profound impact on the commercial landscape,” said Mr. Nassar. “During our collaboration at the NFLPA, where we worked on developing the NFL Players Inc. marketing and licensing business, and in launching OneTeam, I witnessed firsthand his ability to fiercely advocate for athletes and create growth opportunities for them. I am thrilled to see him now leading Winners Alliance. With the support of our team, we are dedicated to building a business that prioritizes athletes’ interests, empowering them to enhance their brands.”
During his four-year tenure at OneTeam, Mr. Winston played a pivotal role in establishing the company as a leading commercial rights representative for over 10,000 players across eight professional athlete unions. Additionally, he co-led the development of the nation’s largest college NIL business and secured partnerships with Players Associations in major sports leagues, including soccer and basketball.
As President, Mr. Winston will lead Winners Alliance through its next stage of growth by developing, communicating, and executing the long-term strategic goals and objectives of the business. This includes overseeing platform development, maximizing the commercialization of players’ rights, and managing relationships with brands through licensing partnerships as well as any acquisitions Winners Alliance looks to transact. The organization is establishing a groundbreaking group licensing program encompassing video games, trading cards, collectibles, and related opportunities. A recent partnership with Fanatics Collectibles will provide players with the opportunity to be featured in a group trading card set program under the renowned Topps brand.
“I am honored to take on the role of President at Winners Alliance and contribute to the advancement of commercial opportunities for professional tennis players,” said Mr. Winston. “With my experience in growing revenue for all athletes, I understand the significance of placing them at the core of our business. In less than a year, Winners Alliance has achieved remarkable progress. Alongside our talented team, we are committed to driving innovation, fostering growth, and ensuring that players have the opportunities they rightfully deserve in the sport they are passionate about.”
Mr. Winston has had a distinguished career, including serving as President of the NFLPA. He led negotiations for a CBA valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars, governing the sport through the 2030 NFL season. He also spearheaded financial advisor and NFL agent regulations, co-authored a financial literacy program for the NFL, and supported transitioning football players through The Player Trust. With his 12-year playing career, Mr. Winston’s advocacy and leadership skills are well-established. In recognition of his expertise, he was named to the NFL-NFLPA Player Benefits board in 2022, which oversees $9 billion in benefit money, including pension, 401K, and insurance.
Mr. Winston holds a B.B.A. degree in international finance and marketing from the University of Miami and earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
About Winners Alliance
Founded in August 2022, Winners Alliance is the for-profit affiliate of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). Its mission is to generate and maximize off-the-court commercial opportunities for players and their agents, drawing inspiration from successful players associations in other sports. Among its pioneering initiatives, Winners Alliance aims to establish a sustainable group licensing program encompassing video games, trading cards, collectibles, and related opportunities.
About the Professional Tennis Players Association:
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is a global organization that unites and mobilizes tennis players to foster transparency and fairness in professional tennis. As an independent entity, the PTPA is dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the rights of professional men’s and women’s tennis players throughout their careers. By prioritizing crucial aspects such as health and safety, schedules, rules, purses, benefits, and education, the PTPA endeavors to build an equitable and sustainable competitive environment for present and future generations of players. Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, the PTPA operates on a global scale. For more information, visit www.ptpaplayers.com and connect with @ptpaplayers on social media.
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