UFC Chief Global Branding Officer Comments On Release

As we previously reported, new UFC owners WME-IMG are planning to layoff fifteen percent of the total UFC staff. MMA Fighting reports that one of those people was UFC chief global brand officer Garry Cook. He has been working with the promotion since 2012 and was initially hired as the managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He was promoted to his current position two years ago. Dana White previously said he was a “rock star” and a “stud” in the business.

Cook said in a statement: “This has been a magnificent experience with one of the greatest sports enterprises of the modern day. I am thankful and proud to have played a part in their brand story working with Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White, Lawrence Epstein and all the talented individuals at the UFC. With the new leadership from WME/IMG the next era of continuing to redefine the global sports landscape is very exciting. I wish them well delivering on their vision for success.”

Other releases include chief content officer Marshall Zelaznik, Asia managing director Ken Berger and Latin America director Jaime Pollack, social media director Shanda Maloney, senior vice president of technology Ed Muncey and controller Brad Smuckler.