Circuit of The Americas Names Mark Pannes President for Strategy and Corporate Growth

• Global sports industry leader Mark Pannes hired by COTA as its new President for Strategy and Corporate Growth
• Pannes’ previous executive roles include CEO of AS Roma (Series A) and the MLS team the Vancouver Whitecaps, Chief Marketing Officer the New York Knicks (NBA), and the Founding Director of HSBC Private Bank’s Global Sports Group in London
• New role will see Pannes take charge of the Circuit’s portfolio of new business properties

AUSTIN, TX (February 2, 2022) – Circuit of The Americas, North America’s premier motorsports and entertainment venue, has hired global sports industry leader Mark Pannes as its new President for Strategy and Corporate Growth.

Pannes, who joins Circuit of the Americas (COTA) from Inner Market Media, will oversee the Circuit’s portfolio of new business properties which are in various stages of development and are poised to reach across its 1,500-acre campus.

”It’s an honor to welcome Mark to our team,” said COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein. “His business background and approach is a perfect fit with our community-oriented, fan-centric culture. “I look forward to Mark helping guide our growth and further our success.” 

Pannes’ executive roles across international sports, entertainment, and finance markets include CEO of AS Roma (Series A) and the MLS team the Vancouver Whitecaps, Chief Marketing Officer for the NBA team the New York Knicks (NBA), and the Founding Director of HSBC Private Bank’s Global Sports Group in London. Pannes’ international experience and local market knowledge make him ideally suited for the blend of global and domestic sports and entertainment growth initiatives that COTA is undertaking.

“This is such an exciting opportunity,” Pannes said. “After hosting the highest attendance Formula One Grand Prix weekend of all time, MotoGP, the Rolling Stones, and the Peppermint Parkway Holiday Festival all within the last few months, the Circuit of The Americas is poised for tremendous growth. Our chairman’s vision for adding sports and entertainment properties and attractions in rapid fashion over the coming years positions COTA to be North America’s premier destination for marquee events.”

Pannes is a University of Texas at Austin graduate and currently serves as chair for UT’s Center for Sports Communication and Media board. He is also a graduate of Fordham Law School and is a member of the State Bar of New York.

Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, is the only purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States designed for all classes of racing. The 3.4-mile racetrack hosts the world’s most prestigious sporting events, including Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas and NASCAR at COTA as well as world-renowned concerts, music festivals, and opportunities for track rentals. The 1,500-acre campus is also home to the award-winning Germania Insurance Amphitheater and driving experiences such as COTA Karting as well as expansive meeting and hospitality spaces and an iconic 25-story observation tower that offers 360-degree views of the circuit, the amphitheater and downtown Austin.

For more information and to download videos and photos, visit www.thecircuit.com. For an experience as unique as Austin and a rush you’ll never forget, visit Circuit of The Americas, where exhilaration happens.