NEW YORK – The NBA has named longtime mobile executive Christine Pantoya Senior Vice President, Mobile Strategy, NBA Chief Strategic and Financial Officer Jason Cahilly announced today.  Pantoya will report to Cahilly and be responsible for expanding the NBA’s mobile strategy in the US and abroad, including the development of the league’s over-the-top and other mobile offerings.

Pantoya brings more than 20 years of marketing experience to her new role, having spent time with numerous market leaders including Verizon, Cox, Sprint and Nextel, among others.

She comes to the NBA from Verizon Communications, where she served as Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development.  During her time at Verizon, she was responsible for developing strategic growth initiatives and multibillion-dollar revenue stream models across various growth areas including media and entertainment, advertising, games, connected services, and mCommerce.

“Christine comes to the NBA at an optimal time,” said Cahilly.  “Her broad industry experience will be invaluable as the league develops new ways to reach and engage with our fans all around the world through mobile platforms.”

“I’m honored to join the NBA, a dynamic, global brand that has always embraced technology and innovation,” said Pantoya. “I look forward to working with some of sports and entertainment’s leading minds to further enhance the NBA experience for our passionate fans.”

While serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Cox, Pantoya helped the cable company prepare for increased competition, with a focus on customer retention programs, value-added selling and centralization of key functions.  She led a team that generated nearly a billion dollars in annual revenue.  Prior to her time at Cox, Pantoya helped launch sales channels for several startup wireless providers.  She was also instrumental in integrating various systems and processes during the merger between Nextel and Sprint.

Pantoya earned her M.B.A., with a focus on marketing, from Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the university and remains active in the ODU community, serving as an advisory board member for the M.B.A. program and as a mentor to current students.  In addition to her work at the school, Pantoya lends time to select Girls in STEM opportunities.

She lives in Summit, N.J., with her husband, Steven, and son, Jacob.