Barstool Sports is run by an experienced team led by David Portnoy, the Founder and President. The leadership team encompasses diverse functions, such as engineering, finance, and content strategy, highlighting unique cross-functional collaboration.
Portnoy, the face of Barstool, is an internet celebrity and blogger whose content and relentless energy have been instrumental in shaping the brand's identity. Together, their entrepreneurial spirits and innovative approaches have propelled Barstool to dominate the digital media space, ensuring its continued growth and influence.
The largest team at Barstool is its content and brand strategy team, guided by SVP Rob Savinelli, showcasing expansive sub-teams that amplify creative input, enabling agility and focused performance across various channels. These sub-teams include roles such as social media directors for Rough n’ Rowdy and Barstool Sports Book. Other teams tend to be lean; for instance, the engineering group features only a few senior backend engineers reporting directly to the CTO, Nicholas Booth.
Barstool Sports, once a humble regional blog, has transformed into a multimillion-dollar digital powerhouse thanks to the strategic leadership of former CEO Erika Nardini and founder David Portnoy. Nardini joined in 2016, becoming the first CEO, and played a pivotal role in expanding the company from 12 employees to over 180, securing a valuation exceeding $100 million. Under her guidance, Barstool captured the coveted 18-34 demographic, cementing its place within the sports and pop culture landscape.