NFL exec joins WSOP team

02/19/2008

Seth Palansky, the high profile communications director for the US National Football League has been hired to work on the World Series of Poker management team by owner Harrah's Entertainment.

He replaces Gary Thompson, who has moved up the corporate tree to become director of corporate communications for Harrah's. Palansky will report directly to Jeffrey Pollack, the commissioner of the WSOP and vice president of sports & entertainment for Harrah's.

"Seth's extensive sports and entertainment marketing experience and personal network of global media contacts will serve us well as we enter a new and exciting period of growth for poker's No. 1 brand," Pollack said.

During his time with the NFL Network, Palansky worked as an official spokesman for the network and for the league on television and media-policy issues. He was directly responsible to NFL President and CEO Steve Bornstein and NFL Senior Vice President Greg Aiello. He headed all corporate communications strategy and media relations functions in a number of capacities.

"I am looking forward to joining the WSOP team," Palansky said. "There are a lot of exciting things going on at Harrah's and I can't wait to get started."

Prior to working for the NFL Network, Palanksy managed media relations for News Corporation's cable asset Fox Sports Net, a collection of 15 regional cable networks that owned the rights to 67 MLB, NBA and NHL teams.

Palansky is the second NFL executive to come on board with the WSOP. Ty Stewart, director of sponsorship and licensing for the brand, was with the NFL for eight years before assuming his current position at Harrah's.

Pollack himself came to the WSOP after holding prominent roles with NASCAR and the National Basketball Association.