The appointment marks USA Boxing’s priority to expand the marketing scope and grow the popularity of the sport, as Millman is one of the sports marketing industry’s most respected professionals.

“USA Boxing is entering a new era,” commented USA Boxing Board of Directors member Alan Rothenberg. “Securing Jim Millman as our CEO is an indication of our organization’s commitment to elevate USA Boxing to the position it deserves as one of the premier Summer Olympic sports, and as one of the best run sports organizations anywhere.”

Millman joins USA Boxing following a distinguished career as the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Millsport, one of the top US-based sports marketing agencies. During his tenure, Millsport established the strongest record for long-term client retention in the industry, encompassing multi-year relationships with such leading corporate clients as Pepsi, Visa, GTE/Verizon, NBC Sports, American Airlines, and Frito-Lay, among many others.

Millman brings extensive Olympic experience to USA Boxing, having helped corporate sponsors work with the IOC, USOC, and many of the Olympic National Governing Bodies, including skiing, gymnastics, track & field, basketball, volleyball, hockey, and baseball.

The Omnicom Group became a minority investor in Millsport in 1996, increasing its ownership share to 100% in 2004. Since then, Millman has served as CEO of PartnerShop Network Corp., an E-commerce based business also developed in partnership with Omnicom.

“The sport of boxing is enjoyed passionately by sports fans throughout the country and throughout the world,” said Millman. “To have an opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of a sport with such a strong history in the American sports culture is a chance few people get. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya – many of the greatest athletes in sports – began their famous careers as Olympic boxers, and I’m looking forward to helping USA Boxing develop more champions to add to that roster.”

“Amateur Boxing in the United States is a product of the efforts and dedication of the many Local Boxing Clubs and their members that operate the sport at the grass-roots level,” continued Millman. “I’m looking forward to working with the LBCs to strengthen the support they receive from USA Boxing’s National Office.”

Millman, 56, is a graduate of Ohio University. He began his career as a freelance production assistant with ABC Sports at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games. He is married to his wife, Pamela, and has two children, Matthew, 26, and Olivia, 18. He will be relocating from Stamford, CT., to USA Boxing headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Millman replaces John Stavros, who has served as Interim USAB Director since November.

“Everyone at USA Boxing is highly appreciative of the effort and dedication that John Stavros provided to USA Boxing,” commented Tom Virgets, USA Boxing Board Chairman. “We owe John a debt of gratitude for handling a difficult situation with a high degree of professionalism. We wish John well in his future endeavors.”