Jon Schwartz
Managing Director, Head of Sports
New York
Jon Schwartz is managing director and head of sports at Prosek Partners. He was previously senior vice president, communications, marketing, digital and social media for the Big Ten Conference and senior vice president, communications and public affairs for the NFL – where he led the League’s strategic communications efforts.
Prior to the NFL, Schwartz led integrated marketing communications at NASCAR – which was named PRWeek’s In-House Team of the Year in 2015. He also held senior in-house communications roles at Bank of America, MasterCard Worldwide and at a consumer-packaged goods company.
Earlier in his career, Schwartz worked in the XFL, Arena Football League and at Taylor – where he serviced blue-chip clients such as MasterCard, Reebok and Castrol. In 2012, he was named to PRWeek’s Forty Under 40 list and was PRNews’ Corporate Social Responsibility Leader of the Year.
While earning a Journalism degree at the University of Maryland, Schwartz worked at the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and in the American Hockey League as a team PR Director. He currently sits on the board for the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at University of Maryland, is an adjunct professor at NYU and serves as chairman of the American Special Hockey Association.
Q & A
What are you most proud of in your career?
I owned and led the public transformation of NASCAR from “The Dirtiest Sport in America” to “The Sports Sustainability Leader.” The effort led to an enhanced reputation for NASCAR among key stakeholders as well as younger, more diverse fans, while attracting new sponsors to the sport. I also championed the NFL’s first-ever LGBTQ+ campaign that eradicated stigmas about coming out in the NFL and drove national attention. Additionally, I created and ran the NFL’s largest, most inclusive tune-in effort ever for the 2020 Draft – which is still the highest-rated draft on record.
Name one thing most people don’t know about you.
I have a passion for serving the disabled community. I led a group of athletes who are disabled on a 1,300-mile+ journey to all 54 rinks in the State of New Jersey in just 54 hours to influence them to allocate at least one hour of ice time per week to disabled hockey.
How would your mother describe you?
Resilient.
What are your greatest strengths as a communications practitioner?
Counseling CEOs, strategic planning and integration.
What is your favorite food?
Barbeque.
Describe your perfect client.
Smart, collaborative and kind. A thought partner with an integrated mindset and high emotional intelligence.
What three hobbies or activities do you enjoy most?
Hockey, flag football, golf.
What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Early morning.
Who would play you in the movie version of your life?
Will Ferrell or Seth Rogan.
What is your favorite quote?
“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” — Oprah Winfrey