Meet the Team: Georgie Thornton, SVP, Sports Management, IMG

To start, tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to becoming SVP, Sports Management at IMG.  

I started my career at IMG back in 2005, working for an incredible Senior Vice President who was hired directly by Mark McCormack, which gave me a fantastic introduction to the sports media industry and the energy that comes with it. From there, I moved into a Broadcast Coordinator & Media Sales Executive role, working closely with broadcasters and rightsholders across a range of different sports. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to build experience focusing heavily on tennis media rights and international partnerships, which has been incredibly exciting given how global and dynamic the sport is. It definitely hasn’t been a linear journey, but that mix of experiences has been hugely valuable for me and has shaped the way I approach the business today.  

What does your role involve day to day, and what do you enjoy most about it?  

No two days are ever really the same, which is probably one of the things I enjoy most about the role! A lot of my time is spent working with rightsholders, broadcasters, and partners around the world on media rights strategy, negotiations, and long-term partnerships, particularly across tennis. It’s a very people-focused role, and building strong relationships is really at the heart of the industry. I love the global nature of the job and the fact that you’re constantly working across different markets, cultures, and challenges. Seeing a partnership come together after months of work is always incredibly rewarding.  

Tennis media rights is a uniquely complex landscape, multiple tournaments, multiple tiers, global broadcasters. How do you navigate that?  

There are so many different stakeholders, organisers and tiers involved across the calendar in tennis media rights. With every market operating differently, the key is understanding what local audiences respond to and what broadcasters prioritise within each territory. For us, it’s about staying close to our partners, being collaborative and making sure we’re always looking at the long-term value of the rights, not just the immediate deal. The landscape is constantly evolving too, particularly with streaming and changing viewing habits, so adaptability is key. Strong relationships and good communication go a very long way in navigating those challenges.  

IMG played a central role in securing Warner Bros. Discovery as the exclusive US broadcaster of Roland-Garros in a landmark 10-year deal. What does it mean for the growth of tennis and its fanbase in the US?  

It’s a hugely exciting deal for the sport and a significant moment for the growth of tennis in the US. Having a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery provides consistency, scale, and the ability to invest strategically in storytelling and audience development around Roland-Garros. The breadth of their platform means there’s an opportunity to reach both existing tennis fans and newer audiences in more innovative ways, whether through streaming, digital content, or broader entertainment integration. Long-term deals like this also allow broadcasters to build deeper editorial commitment around the tournament and the players over time. Ultimately, it’s about making the sport more accessible, engaging, and visible to the next generation of fans! It’s also a joy to work so closely with the extremely talented team at Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT), IMG’s Americas teams involved in this partnership, and so many others in our business.