The BIG EAST Conference has selected Elevate Talent as the firm to spearhead the search for the next BIG EAST Commissioner, following Val Ackerman’s retirement announcement in April.
Today, the conference Board of Directors, comprised of the Presidents of the BIG EAST’s 11 member institutions, held its spring meeting in New York City where they officially announced the Elevate Talent appointment.
Elevate Talent is a leading executive search and leadership advisory firm, and recently, has successfully placed the LPGA Commissioner, Chair of Stanford Athletics, Chair of the WTA, USTA CEO, among others.
"Elevate Talent was purpose-built to be a different kind of executive search practice; one defined by depth over volume."
Liz Moulton
Chief People Officer and Chairman of Elevate Talent
"We are bespoke by design, and that means we fully immerse ourselves in every search we take on. We become part of the organization, we learn its culture, we understand what this moment demands, and we bring the same commitment to the outcome that our clients do. With the BIG EAST, that is exactly what we are doing. This is a true partnership from start to finish, and we are proud that organizations of this caliber trust us to deliver.”
This search will be led by Liz Moulton and Senior Partner Kyle Bowlsby.
Moulton brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience spanning professional leagues, collegiate conferences, and global sports organizations, with a track record of placing transformational leaders at the highest levels of the industry.
Bowlsby leads Elevate Talent’s college and professional sports verticals and is widely regarded as one of the most trusted advisors in intercollegiate athletics. He currently supports more than 90 university partners across 23 conferences and brings over a decade of experience placing and advising executive leaders across athletic departments, governing bodies, and sports organizations.
It is a transformational time in college athletics. The BIG EAST enters this transition from a position of clarity and confidence. Rooted in an unmatched men’s and women’s basketball tradition, the conference has a strong identity, dating back to its creation in 1979 and its reconfiguration in 2013. The incoming Commissioner will be charged with embracing innovation and adapting to the modern era while honoring the values and traditions that define the BIG EAST. As the conference looks ahead to its next media rights cycle, securing the right leader now will ensure the BIG EAST is positioned as one of the most desirable and best-prepared properties in collegiate athletics.
Interested candidates may contact Elevate at: bigeast@oneelevate.com.
Elevate is a global, integrated agency network committed to helping properties, brands, and universities forge deeper connections with their audiences to unlock growth. Serving more than 1,000 clients across sports, entertainment, consumer products, retail, and more, Elevate transforms followers into devoted fans.
An agency rooted in innovation, Elevate leverages EPIC, its proprietary intelligence platform powered by advanced data and AI technology. EPIC integrates tools for consumer insights, ticketing, property analytics, and more, empowering clients to maximize ROI, enhance fan engagement, and craft campaigns that foster lasting loyalty.
Founded in 2018, Elevate partners with clients worldwide from offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. For more information, visit us at www.oneelevate.com.
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The BIG EAST-sponsored athletic programs of our institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,800 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University. For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.
