Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is departing the collegiate athletic landscape to lead a newly formed holding company based in Italy.
According to “reporting from Yahoo Sports”, Yormark has been appointed as the chief executive officer of Milan Sports & Entertainment.
The firm is backed by RedBird Capital Partners, the investment group that owns the Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan, “as noted by the firm’s official site.”
Yormark will oversee business strategy and international expansion, reporting directly to RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale.
One of his primary responsibilities involves the construction of a new 71,500-seat stadium for AC Milan and Inter Milan, “as detailed in recent project disclosures.”
The executive expressed enthusiasm regarding the transition in a recent announcement, stating, “It’s an honor and a privilege to take on this role in a city with Milan’s history and passion for sport.”
Yormark added, “I look forward to drawing on that experience to execute RedBird’s vision for MSE.”
Beyond stadium development, the company is evaluating the acquisition of a franchise in the proposed NBA Europe league, “according to industry reports.”
Yormark is expected to remain with the Big 12 through January 2027 to facilitate the search for his successor.
He concludes a four-year tenure that saw the conference navigate major realignment, including the addition of eight schools such as BYU and Utah.
He also secured a significant media rights agreement for the league, “as reported by conference news outlets.”
The transition marks a definitive shift for Yormark, moving from the changing landscape of American college athletics to a broad, international sports and entertainment portfolio.