Stephen Denton is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Opendorse while founders Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic take on roles as President of Collegiate Operations and Chief Operating Officer.
Lincoln, NE, July 16, 2024 – Opendorse, the leading NIL service and technology platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Denton as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 15, 2024. This strategic leadership transition is designed to support the company’s continued growth and innovation.
Denton brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a CEO, having successfully scaled businesses in technology, media, AI, and e-commerce. He has built and sold companies to marketplace giants like Rakuten and eBay. Most recently, as CEO of Ware2Go, Denton led the company through a rapid expansion of revenue growth and scale over four years culminating in a successful acquisition by UPS.
Denton’s expertise in rapidly scaling network-based businesses makes him the ideal leader to guide Opendorse through its next phase of growth in the evolving NIL landscape. Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Denton said, “I’m thrilled to join Blake, Adi, and the amazing team at Opendorse as we simplify and scale the NIL landscape to help athletes, institutions, collectives, and advertisers compete and win. Together, we will achieve new milestones and deliver exceptional value for our customers and stakeholders.”
Founders Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic will continue to play pivotal roles within the company. Lawrence will assume the position of President, Collegiate Operations. In this role, he will work closely with Opendorse’s collegiate partners, taking a hands-on approach with athletic directors to assist athletic departments in making informed decisions through Opendorse’s proprietary insights, especially in navigating the revenue-sharing landscape of NIL.
Blake is a recognized leader in the industry, having led the NCAA’s NIL Working Group in 2019, and seen Opendorse’s data and concepts extensively cited in the House vs. NCAA settlement documents. With over 12 years of experience in athlete endorsements, his expertise and focus are essential in guiding Opendorse and its collegiate partners through the evolving NIL environment.
Kunalic will continue as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the day-to-day execution and alignment of Opendorse’s network-based business model, serving both commercial and collegiate partners. Opendorse has captured over $250 million in NIL deals and disclosures, and more than 125,000 student-athletes and their partners trust Opendorse. In June 2023, TIME named Opendorse one of the 100 Most Influential Companies in the world, alongside legendary businesses like Apple, OpenAI, SpaceX, and more. Kunalic will continue to lead the expansion of Opendorse’s strategic channel partnerships, ensuring that Opendorse delivers a comprehensive NIL offering to the market.
“We are excited to welcome Stephen to Opendorse,” said Lawrence. “Stephen’s impressive track record of scaling businesses and his expertise in network-based models make him the perfect leader for Opendorse at this stage. The commercial side of Opendorse has uncapped potential, and with Stephen’s vision, we aim to capitalize on bringing more deals and value to athletes than ever before.”
Kunalic added, “This transition enables us to focus our efforts on specific strategic initiatives, ensuring that Opendorse remains at the forefront of our industry.”
With the combined strengths of Denton, the founders, and the existing leadership team, Opendorse is well-positioned to achieve its strategic objectives and continue its legacy of success.
For further information, please contact:
Sam Weber, Head of Brand Marketing & Communications
sam@opendorse.com
308-293-3988
