Ross Levinsohn
Ross B. Levinsohn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Media executive |
| Years active | 1989–2023 |
| Known for | CEO of The Arena Group, CEO of Sports Illustrated, publisher of Los Angeles Times |
Ross B. Levinsohn is a seasoned American media executive with a broad background in both media and technology sectors. He has held the position of CEO at The Arena Group and Sports Illustrated, along with key leadership roles at Yahoo, Fox Interactive, and Tribune Publishing. His career also includes a short period as publisher of the Los Angeles Times prior to its acquisition in 2018. Levinsohn assumed the role of CEO at Sports Illustrated in October 2019 and later at The Arena Group in August 2020, before being dismissed in December 2023.
Early life
Levinsohn grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey as the son of Joyce (née Salton) and Jay Douglas Levinsohn. He completed his undergraduate education with a degree in broadcast communications from American University.
Early career
Levinsohn’s career commenced in 1989 at HBO, where he focused on marketing and promotions within Time Warner Sports. By 1996, he had joined SportsLine USA based in Ft. Lauderdale, producing syndicated television and radio programs centered on NFL content.
In 1999, he contributed to launching the portal division of Alta Vista. Between 2001 and 2005, Levinsohn served as senior vice president and general manager at Fox Sports Interactive Media, a division of News Corporation. He was promoted to president of Fox Interactive Media near the end of 2004, overseeing the $580 million acquisition of MySpace.
Levinsohn stepped down from News Corp. in November 2006, with his cousin succeeding him. In 2007, he joined Velocity Interactive Group, a venture capital firm that later became Fuse Capital.
Yahoo
In October 2010, Levinsohn was appointed executive vice president for the Americas at Yahoo. During his tenure, Yahoo acquired 5to1, a digital advertising network operated by his longtime associate James Heckman.
He broadened Yahoo’s media offerings by streaming short films and animated projects in partnership with prominent figures such as Robert Redford and Tom Hanks.
Levinsohn served as interim CEO for two months in 2012 before stepping down when the board selected Marissa Mayer, formerly of Google, as permanent CEO.
In 2013, he took on the role of CEO at Guggenheim Digital Media, a division of Guggenheim Partners that owned titles including The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.
In 2014, Levinsohn was appointed executive chairman of Scout Media, a digital sports media company. The firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2016 to facilitate its sale. Subsequently, Levinsohn and Heckman were named defendants in a shareholder lawsuit filed in 2017 concerning Scout Media’s financial failure.
Los Angeles Times
On August 21, 2017, Levinsohn was appointed publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times by tronc, succeeding Davan Maharaj.
In December 2017, staff at the Los Angeles Times initiated a union election held on January 4, 2018, driven by worries over plans to develop a network of freelance contributors producing content outside the core newsroom.
Following reports of two sexual harassment lawsuits and allegations regarding inappropriate workplace conduct, Levinsohn was placed on unpaid leave in January 2018. An independent law firm retained by Tronc conducted an investigation lasting three weeks that found no evidence of misconduct. After being cleared, Levinsohn was named CEO of Tribune Interactive.
When billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong acquired the Los Angeles Times in June 2018, Levinsohn transitioned to lead Tribune Interactive. Later that year, he departed Tribune Publishing after his role was eliminated.
The Arena Group
In June 2019, Levinsohn took the helm as CEO of Sports Illustrated following a $45 million licensing agreement between his company, then known as Maven Inc., and the magazine’s new proprietor, Authentic Brands Group.<ref> By October of that year, Maven had laid off 40 journalists, transitioned to employing independent contractors, and appointed a new editor-in-chief, replacing Chris Stone.<ref>
Levinsohn was promoted to CEO of Maven in August 2020, succeeding Heckman. His leadership prioritized the growth of high-quality content while addressing challenges linked to former management and ownership conflicts, including disputes involving Meredith Corporation and journalist Grant Wahl.<ref><ref>
In September 2021, Maven adopted the name The Arena Group to signify its strategic pivot toward developing scalable media verticals centered around key flagship brands.<ref><ref> Levinsohn continues to hold the positions of chairman and CEO.<ref>
April 2022 marked The Arena Group’s acquisition of Parade Media, the publisher behind Parade magazine.<ref>
By December 2022, the company expanded its portfolio by acquiring digital properties of Men's Journal, Men's Fitness, Surfer, Powder, Bike, SKATEboarding, Snowboarder, and NewSchoolers from A360media.<ref>
In August 2023, Manoj Bhargava integrated The Arena Group into his Bridge Media Networks, becoming its majority stakeholder. This consolidation facilitated brand synergy between Bhargava’s television channels NewsNet and Sports News Highlights and The Arena Group’s media assets.<ref>
Levinsohn was removed from his role as CEO of The Arena Group in December 2023. Bhargava stepped in to lead with a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and boosting revenue.<ref><ref>
Personal life
He lives in Brentwood, Los Angeles.