The Power of Now!
Today, January 14, 2o20 might be my favorite day in not only my life but also the history of the world. Yes, a man ate a baby dolphin on Laguna Beach and yes a Kansas husband has requested “trial by combat” with Japanese swords in order to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife.
But those two pale in comparison to the earthquake shaking Santa Monica’s streets for it is there that the announcement was just loosed.
One-time President of Content, Media and Studios Erik “ELo” Logan has become the World Surf League’s Chief Executive Officer, vanquishing Sophie Goldschmidt in a bloodless coup.
Let’s read the press release together while I fasten my apron.
LOS ANGELES, California (Tuesday, January 14, 2020) – The World Surf League (WSL) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Sophie Goldschmidt will be stepping down from her post and that WSL’s President of Content, Media and Studios Erik Logan has been named as CEO, effective this week.
“Sophie has had a huge impact on the WSL. She is responsible for transforming both our business capabilities and culture in her tenure as CEO,” Dirk Ziff, WSL Owner and Board Member, said. “With the converging trends in sports, media and entertainment, we mutually agreed it was time to make a change. Erik Logan is a proven leader and a world-class media executive with a profound personal connection to the sport of surfing. We are excited about what he will accomplish as CEO. We will always be grateful to Sophie for her contributions to surfing and we look forward to the WSL’s next chapter.”
Goldschmidt, who took on the CEO role in 2017, led the transformation of the WSL’s organizational structure, refocusing the business with an emphasis on the opportunity around the sport and lifestyle of surfing. During her tenure, she led the institution of equal prize money across men’s and women’s surfing, negotiated a historic 10-year surfer agreement, secured the first-of-its-kind Facebook partnership and unprecedented levels of linear and digital distribution. She also delivered the first-ever competitive events at Surf Ranch (the WSL’s wave technology facility), relaunched the organization’s ocean health advocacy program WSL PURE, significantly raised the WSL’s profile globally and built a dynamic new leadership team.
“It’s been a privilege to collaborate with the caliber of colleagues, athletes, partners and communities around the world that I have during my time at the WSL,” Goldschmidt said. “Surfing is unique, captivating and inspiring and leading the WSL has been a professional highlight for me.”
“With the WSL now ready to become a more focused content and media company, the Board and I have mutually agreed it is the right time to make a change,” Goldschmidt said. “Having worked closely with Erik, he is the right person to lead the WSL into its next era. I am excited about what lies ahead for the organization.”
Following the transition, Goldschmidt will continue to help the company and join its Advisory Board.
Logan, who previously served as President of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and Executive Vice President at Harpo Studios, has operated as the WSL’s President of Content, Media and Studios since February 2019, revamping the organization’s live broadcasts, leading the development of off-platform content including its first non-scripted TV series, in partnership with ABC, Ultimate Surfer (airing Summer 2020), as well as 24/7: Kelly Slater on HBO. In his role as WSL CEO, Logan will utilize his decades of international business and media experience to continue to transform the WSL into a world-class live events, experiences and media company.
“The World Surf League is the most exciting, inspiring and promising opportunity I have ever encountered,” Logan said. “The power of the organization’s platform, the history of championing the world’s best surfers, the global fan base and the opportunity to accelerate the WSL as an international sport and media powerhouse is absolutely incredible.”
“Surfing is powerful. As someone who came to it later in life, I personally understand the impact surfing can have on individuals, communities and the world at large,” Logan continued. “To be able to lead world-class people at the WSL and combine my professional and personal passions is a dream come true.”
I’m having a full blown heart attack combined with an aneurysm.
Ohhhhhh this coming season is going to be the very, very, very best ever.
Off to the hospital I go!
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This is all so dumb. Wasn’t there a time when surfers were cool? What happened to that time?
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In other news Chas smith is finally appointed to his dream job as the WSL’s new President of Content, Media and Studios prompting Derek to sell his share of beachgrit media to the WSL thus making longtom technically now an employee of the WSL and waterman of the year dirk ziff
Wake up and smell the collaboration.
Chas and all of them have been working for WSL the whole time.
Hired shills. Obviously.
Go add up how many stories have been about the WSL.
And when the season is done, they don’t report on surfing, they report on shark attacks.
This whole thing is so so so lame.
Obvi!
Pretending to be a thorn in the establishments rear end whilst waiting patiently to sell out or are they really just a puppet for a fascist regime
Chas, you never realized it, these guys– Dirk, Elo etc. are– ‘Land Sharks’– if your not careful– they’re gonna chomp you up.
“you’re not careful”
If you’re not careful, you will be mistaken for one of the Mongol races.
The Land Sharks might be coming for you next. They’re ruthless. Do not mess with them.
Chas, this commenter bot is never going to pass the Turing test until you expand its vocabulary.
the connection was first realised when shakas became an involuntary gesture. Oprah never understood, it was that moment I new it was time to move on a focus my energies on the simple pleasures of a board, a paddle, a personal filmer and an instagram account.
very good breakdown
No, Sophie just realized that surfers – for the most part – are a load of self-important, vulgar, stupid, idiots and fucktards – some of the editors and most of the commenters on this site being a prime example – and it made her feel unclean and now she wants to go somewhere better.
Good on her.
Ouch!
Whoa, dude. Harsh!
I went to Chiba last year to take a squiz at the contest site. Lots of foxy japanese girls with slippery brown skin in bikinis. Some even surfed. It was rad.
The waves were way better than I thought they would be. True I went in with diabolical expectations, but it wasn’t absolute shite.
rabbit was sacked. He has issues.
He seems like a decent guy in that vid, but FUCK such an ill fit for surfing
yup – which is probably due to the weirdness of the job – carrying out the WSL’s weird vision, mission, and strategy for surfing as they understand it.
CEL(l)Ophane
Clowns to the left of me jokers to the right……
Ha!
‘Sophie’s Choice’… A bleak movie with a tragic ending.
Yeah… great news for surfing. Not so great for the WSL I might add.
Close your eyes, make a wish.
He broke it on the gram an hour ago Chas. The guy was flirting with ya
The surfing competitions will be a green screen VFX.
…