NTWRK hires Foot Locker exec as first chief marketer

Dive Brief:

With signs of growth for livestream shopping in the U.S., NTWRK is building out its executive team, appointing Jason Brown to serve as the company's first chief marketing officer, according to a press release emailed to Retail Dive.
At NTWRK, Brown will manage the platform's marketing strategies across the company. He will steer the company's partnerships with brands and creators, build an integrated consumer experience and work toward increasing its revenue, the company said.
Brown brings prior experience from other established media and retail companies such as Foot Locker, PepsiCo and NBC Sports Group. He also held previous integrated sales and marketing positions at Fox Sports Actions Sports channel, Fuel TV and Fox Cable Networks, per the announcement.

Dive Insight:

As NTWRK's new CMO, Brown will put his own spin on the company's events, including its virtual shopping festivals, international events, daily product drops and the creation of new events, according to the press release. He also will play a role in the company's social and cultural responsibility efforts.

"NTWRK sits at the cross section of technology, culture, and commerce and Jason's uniquely positioned skillset is key to realizing our vision for NTWRK as we continue to grow and build," Aaron Levant, CEO of NTWRK, said in a statement. "We welcome Jason's bold vision and wealth of experience to the NTWRK team."

Jason Brown joins NTWRK as its first CMO

Courtesy of Foot Locker

Brown's hiring follows Foot Locker's investment in NTWRK in 2019, where the two also agreed to collaborate on creating content, among other things. Live Nation and Foot Locker led NTWRK's Series A funding round, with Foot Locker itself investing $3 million in the livestreaming platform. Foot Locker is leaning heavier into digital marketing, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only created a need for more digital events at the company, but also highlighted the benefits of digital engagement.

"I can't wait to inspire our worldwide community of artists, especially those of underserved and underrepresented communities," Brown said in a statement. "I have been a fan of the platform since its inception — having worked closely with them during my tenure at Foot Locker. I'm excited to remain a part of the Foot Locker, Inc. portfolio by joining the incredible thought leadership team at NTWRK in this full capacity."

As Brown steps into his new CMO role at the company, the livestream market is expected to grow, and other retailers and platforms are entering the mix. More brands are turning to livestream shopping to appeal to younger consumers. And according to a Coresight Research report, the livestream market could reach $6 billion this year and $25 billion by 2023. Amid the growing market, livestream commerce platforms like Talkshoplive and ShopShops have raised capital to expand their reach.