Post by Chad Millman

Yesterday was bittersweet: Eight years after helping to launch Action Network, I resigned. From the early days of banging out newsletters in hotel rooms, bars, and coffee shops, to our first, echo-chamber office by Grand Central; from the thrill of sports betting legalization to the pain of a pandemic. And, finally, the relief of an exit followed by the challenge of post-acquisition integration. The experience delivered every emotion you’d expect when building something from scratch with ambitious, creative, mission-driven people. A few shoutouts: • Mike Kerns had the vision for this business. After meeting, I didn’t need much convincing to leave ESPN and jump in with him, Mark Kamal, Jesse Jacobs and Peter Chernin — before we even had a name. • Brian Mead created a world-class app that became Action’s heartbeat. • Patrick Keane joined as CEO and changed our trajectory, making us a team and giving us exit velocity. • Melissa Betts translated our “creative” accounting into something an actual adult might recognize. • Ari Borod‘s relentless drive and focus provided the critical turning point for our business. • And without Scott Miller, who joined me from ESPN, we would have failed from the get go, which is why he became COO of the company. Huge thanks as well to Darren Rovell, Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Stuckey, Evan Abrams, Matt Mitchell, Katie Richcreek, Michael Leboff, Daniel J. S., Malik Smith, Jason Sobel, Steven Petrella, Matt Moore, Sean Zerillo, Collin Wilson, Mark Gallant, Bryan Mears, Matthew Freedman, Connor Nolte and so many others on the edit team in those early days who gave Action a voice, legitimacy and energy from day one. Today Action serves millions of sports fans across digital, social, and video platforms. I’m so appreciative that Marc Pedersen, Jesper Søgaard, and Christian Kirk Rasmussen of Better Collective saw that future and made us part of their global vision. I leave with gratitude for a life-altering experience.