Gary Jacobus
Senior Vice President, Business Development
SSP America

Gary Jacobus is Senior Vice President of Business Development at SSP America. SSP America is a division of SSP Group, a global leader in the business of creating restaurants, bars, cafes, and marches in environments where people are on the move. SSP’s operations span more than 2,000 outlets across 140 airports and 280 rail stations serving over one million passengers daily in more than 30 countries. Jacobus leads the business development team and is charged with developing and growing SSP America’s portfolio across North America.

Prior to joining SSP America, Jacobus led business development for Aramark’s Sports & Entertainment division. He was responsible for securing new and retaining current food & beverage and retail merchandising business within Professional and NCAA sports venues, convention centers, cultural attractions, and amphitheaters.

In 2009, he joined the NBA as vice president of global marketing partnership and led the team that secured the largest marketing partnership in NBA history with Sprint ($222MM over four years). In 2007, Jacobus joined the USTA as managing director responsible for securing marketing partners for the US Open securing over $10MM in new business during his tenure.

From 2003 to 2007, Jacobus co-founded a healthful fast-casual restaurant concept called “UFood Grill” which currently has close to 20 units open nationwide. He got his first taste of the start-up world in 2000 when he joined an early stage tech company called Trakus. As president of the company, he landed agreements with the NFL and NHL that positioned Trakus as the early leader digital sports content.

Jacobus ran IMG’s worldwide sports and entertainment corporate consulting practice. He grew the division by 270% and was responsible for consummating a $2.5MM consulting agreement with Philips Electronics, the most lucrative consulting assignment in IMG’s 40 year history.

Jacobus began his sports marketing career with the NFL. During his seven-year tenure, the annual marketing partnership revenue grew from $10MM to over $120MM. Jacobus was responsible for the then largest partnership in sports history, a three year $87MM venture with Sprint.

Jacobus received his MBA from The Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and his BBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire where he competed on the varsity wrestling team.

Jacobus lives in Larchmont, NY with his wife Kira Stokes.