Sports platform Fanatic announced Thursday that it had hired former Dick Clark Productions CEO Mike Mahan to run its commercial card and digital collectibles business.
Founded in 2021, Fanatic Collectibles includes the NFT arm, Candy Digital, sports card brand Topps. And Zerocool, a trading card brand focused solely on pop culture, arts, and entertainment.
Mahan retired from Dick Clark Productions, known for major television shows. Such as the Golden Globe and Billboard Music Awards, in 2020. He started his career as an investment banker for Bear Stearns and soon struck a deal with men’s firm Manscaped to publicize his unresolved $1 billion SPAC deal through its blank check company, Bright Lights Acquisition Corp.
“Our collectibles business has grown tremendously since launching last year. And we are very confident in bringing Mike to shape the bright future of this entity. And align it with our larger platform for Fanatics Digital Sports, ‘Fanatics.’ To reconcile, CEO Michael Rubin said in a statement.
Mahan will report directly to Rubin.
“As a collector and avid sports fan. Mike’s vision for the card-sharing hobby and new digital collectibles backed by exclusive products will continue to position Fanatics. As a leader in this category and provide incredible opportunities for fans, collectors, and hobby shops, and retailers. create and our partners.”
Fanatics is the bulk owner of Candy Digital, also Mike Novogratz.
The founder of the cryptocurrency trading bank Galaxy Digital, also owns a stake. Board members include Novograz, Rubin, and investor Gary Weinerchuk. Investors include SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2, also Insight Partners, and the Peyton Manning Professional Football Hall of Fame.
While it will remain a separate organization, Candy Digital CEO Scott Lowen will report to Mahan. As part of the Fanatics Collectibles reorganization.