Andrew Messick is retiring this year as president and CEO of The Ironman Group after 12 years with the company. Messick will remain a stakeholder and member of its Board of Directors following the recruitment and appointment of a new CEO.
“Being the CEO of The Ironman Group has been the professional honor of my life – the most meaningful and purposeful work experience I have had – and I am filled with gratitude for the support of my team members, our partners, and the athlete community over the past 12 years,” said Messick. “I have given all I have to this job, and my life has been enriched by the opportunity to build incredible events, meet athlete community members from all over the world, and lead an incredibly dedicated group of colleagues.”
Messick joined The Ironman Group in 2011 and led the transition of the organization from a triathlon brand to the largest organizer of mass participation events annually across more than 50 countries in triathlon, running, trail-running, road cycling, and mountain biking, while also adding digital training platforms and programs for athletes. Key brands acquired or developed alongside the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 triathlon series include the UTMB World Series, Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, Epic Series of mountain biking events anchored by the Absa Cape Epic, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and FulGaz virtual cycling digital platform.
Messick continued, “I am proud of the organization we have built with senior leaders and a global team of dedicated individuals who have been the backbone of our success. Combined with a supportive long-term focused ownership group in Advance and Orkila Capital, and a passionate base of athletes, the company is well positioned for the future.”
“Andrew and I first bonded 15 years ago over our shared love for Ironman and have worked together since 2011,” said Jesse Du Bey, managing partner for Orkila Capital. “It has been amazing to watch the business transform under his leadership. He has been a powerful force in growing The Ironman Group – endurance sport and particularly triathlon – all over the world. We are all grateful for his service to the sport and look forward to his next chapter as a member of the Board.”
“Our partnership with Andrew and confidence in his leadership was critical to Advance’s decision in March of 2020 to acquire The Ironman Group while an unprecedented and unpredictable pandemic disruption to the live events industry was well underway,” said Janine Shelffo, chief strategy & development officer at Advance. “It is thanks to his steady stewardship that The Ironman Group has emerged from that disruption well poised to capitalize on the tremendous long-term opportunities we see ahead. I am grateful for his dedication and his longstanding commitment to inspiring athletes worldwide.”
Before joining The Ironman Group in 2011, Messick was president of AEG Sports. Before that, he was the SVP International for the National Basketball Association, overseeing the NBA’s network of international offices and leading the organization’s globalizing efforts. Messick has completed four Ironman triathlons and dozens of Ironman 70.3 events, including the Ironman 70.3 World Championship; has completed all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors; is an OCC finisher of UTMB Mont-Blanc; and has competed in cycling events worldwide, including multiple Haute Route events.
Photo courtesy The Ironman Group
