Will McIntosh is an accomplished, forward-thinking entrepreneur and executive with a wealth of experience in technology start-ups, e-commerce, interactive marketing and SaaS-based businesses, with particular emphasis in areas such as product management, business development and strategy, mergers and acquisitions, technology innovation and near-/long-term budgetary management. His expertise is deep with respect to sports media, hospitality, tourism and service-based businesses throughout both the United States and Europe.
McIntosh currently serves as Executive Vice President, Digital and Sports Consumer Business, NBC Sports Group, providing leadership oversight across NBC Sports’ Digital platforms and SportsEngine, in addition to leading the digital initiatives for NBC Sports’ GOLF business, including GOLFNOW.
Specifically for GOLF, his responsibilities include strategy, performance marketing, product development, content generation, and technology research and development for GolfNow, GolfChannel.com, Golf Advisor and Revolution Golf, among other web-based businesses, as well as Golf Channel Academy.
GolfNow is a technology company specializing in golf-related digital products and services with the most powerful tee-time marketplace in golf, and it represents the most successful blend of television and commerce in sports. When Golf Channel looked to expand beyond the scope of a traditional linear network, it tapped McIntosh to drive the strategy and growth for GolfNow, now the golf industry’s No. 1 technology and services company, as well as GolfChannel.com, golf’s leading source of news and information online. His leadership has helped the business grow from 1,000 golf course partners to currently more than 8,000 in 16 countries, connecting with more than 3.5 million golfers, which are serviced by more than 500 GolfNow professionals. McIntosh develops strategic, operational, product and technological priorities for the business, including a multi-purpose booking engine technology that can be utilized by other industries.
Over the past few years, McIntosh has been the primary driver of more than 10 mergers and acquisitions that have proliferated company growth. In 2017, he led the process to fully acquire Golf Channel Academy, a premier network of over 600 world-class coaches and 90 teaching facilities across more than 30 US states. He also led the acquisition of Revolution Golf, golf’s largest direct-to-consumer digital business. The acquisition not only increased the digital monthly reach of the golf brands under NBC Sports Group to more than 15 million active golfers, but also deepened the brand’s relationship with golfers by providing another platform that helps them find great golf courses and play better golf via the products and digital content that are creatively sold via Revolution Golf and its sister properties Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey.
In 2016, McIntosh was integral in spearheading NBC Sports’ entry into youth sports via the acquisition of Minneapolis-based Sport Ngin – rebranded as SportsEngine – the leading provider of sport-life management software and mobile applications for more than 500,000 sports teams, leagues, clubs and associations. As a current member of the SportsEngine board of directors, he collaborates with an impressive list of executives, including Mark Lazarus, Chairman, Broadcast, Cable, Sports & News for NBCUniversal.
McIntosh also managed GolfNow’s acquisition of BRS Golf, a cloud-based tee-time distribution management and online booking system for golf course operators, which allowed expansion into the United Kingdom and Ireland; and led the development of GolfNow’s recent spinoff of Golf Advisor, a ratings and reviews website for golfers, by golfers, which features more than 500,000 golf course reviews, as well as travel information and editorial.
Prior to joining Golf Channel, McIntosh owned and operated his own business ventures with a focus on interactive marketing and software development within the hospitality industry, founding and serving as CEO of three distinct businesses from 2004-2009.
McIntosh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in financial management, from Winthrop University where he graduated magna cum laude. He also is a graduate of Comcast’s Executive Leadership Forum, an intensive, company-wide program for Comcast leaders.