Time Inc.

Executive Team

Mark Ford
Executive Vice President and Sports Group President

In January of 2011, Mark Ford was appointed EVP of Time Inc. and President of Time Inc.’s newly formed Sports Group. He will now oversee the global and international business development and operations for Sports Illustrated, the Sports Illustrated Golf Group and SI Kids franchises which together reach 30 million sports fans and generate $600 million in revenue.  Ford will also work in partnership with Turner Sports to create the #1 sports web business.  In addition, he will seek opportunities across all Time Warner sports operations (Warner Bros., Turner Sports and HBO) to align and leverage Time Warner’s sports assets, build a multiplatform sports business and new revenue streams for the company.  

Many in the industry point to Ford’s SI Group as the model for transitioning a traditional print franchise into an elite sports media company. Recently, Ford was named to BusinessWeek’s 2008 list of the “Most Influential People in Sports Business.”

His strategy focuses on innovation, integration of resources and strategic M&A. In the past 18 months, the SI Group has introduced new platforms in the social media space, a compelling media auction platform, a program to monetize 54 years of archives and an event marketing business. Many of these initiatives are firsts in the industry and have injected new revenue streams into the franchise.

Previously, Ford served as President of the Time Inc. News & Sports Group, comprised of Sports Illustrated, Time, Fortune, Money, Golf and Life.com.  He put into place new organizational structures, aligned resources, launched new businesses and developed the revenue strategy for new digital/mobile platforms for emerging media such as tablets. In 2010, his efforts produced a major 55% year-over-year growth in the Group’s profitability, and he. was named to the Mediaweek’s Annual list of industry innovators.

Before that post, Ford was President of the Sports Illustrated Group which includes the flagship weekly magazine; SI Digital; the SI Golf Group (GOLF Magazine, Golf.com, SI Golf Plus, SI Kids and SI Event Marketing;. His four-year tenure was marked by consistent, year-over-year bottom-line growth, a vastly expanded global footprint, groundbreaking digital development and the launch of an event marketing division.

Before taking the helm at SI, Ford was President of Time4 Media and its network of 17 enthusiast magazines, including Golf, Field & Stream, Popular Science and This Old House. From 2001 to 2005,  he shaped the company’s strategy and mission – revamping the sales-and-marketing organization and embracing a commitment to editorial excellence. In this post, Ford produced strong results with the group, reporting an average annual income increase of 11.6%.

In 1997, Time Inc. selected Ford to lead the newly-acquired Media Networks Inc. (MNI).  As President of the Stamford, CT.-based targeted media company, Ford reinvented the company by developing new strategies, recruiting talented people and setting high expectations. In his three years with MNI, bottom line revenue grew from $1.0 million to $16.0 million in net income and ad revenue increased from $27 million to $63 million.

The assignment to the launch team of Entertainment Weekly in 1989 proved one of Ford’s most rewarding career experiences. There he worked with a core group of Time Inc.'s best and brightest to develop one of the most successful new magazines in the history of publishing. In 1992, Ford accepted the position of Midwestern Sales Director for People, EW andLife, then went on to the role of Division Director, Central Region for Time Inc. Corporate in 1993.

Ford’s Time Inc. career began as a Divisional Sales Manager for Time in 1985. Previously, he worked in the media department at J. Walter Thompson Chicago and as a sales representative for Hearst’s Cosmopolitan.

In recognition of his leadership qualities and sales expertise, Ford has twice received the Time Inc. President's Award (1992 and 1997) – the highest honor in recognition of outstanding contributions to the company.

An adventure sports enthusiast, Ford has driven his motorcycle on the treacherous paths of the Baja 1000, as well as off-road courses in Africa, Costa Rica and other remote regions around the globe. A die-hard fan of his hometown Cleveland Indians and Browns, Ford also enjoys skiing and other outdoor sports with his wife, Maggie, and their three children. He received a degree in journalism from Kent State.