NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global public affairs and venture consulting firm Oaktree Solutions announced today that former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams has joined as Managing Director of Sports Ventures.
Building on Oaktree’s equity stake in Los Angeles-based talent firm AIGH, Williams will lead the next phase of the firm’s practice for professional athletes – from college through retirement. His focus will be on guiding clients through complex sponsorship and partnership negotiations, strategic financial planning, and brand and reputation development to create rewarding and lucrative careers.
“Oaktree Solutions is built on delivering joy, value and understanding in complex situations,” said Frank V. Carone, founder and chairman of Oaktree Solutions. “The life of a professional athlete holds tremendous promise, as well as pressure and risk. Our Sports Ventures practice is built to maximize opportunity and minimize risk, and Jayson is the perfect leader to manage it. No one knows better than Jayson how difficult it is to thrive in the harsh spotlight of the arena or stadium, and he will do tremendous work with our team to guide athletes toward fulfilling and secure futures.”
Following an 11-season career in the NBA, primarily with the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets, Williams faced his own struggles adjusting to life after basketball. After triumphing through adversity, Jayson realized the power of his platform as a former athlete and devoted his life to helping others by founding the Rebound Institute, where he works with individuals struggling with substance abuse and formerly incarcerated people in building career paths and transforming their lives. In addition to his role with Oaktree Sports Ventures, Jayson will also advise Oaktree’s corporate and non-profit clients on engaging the athletic community and addressing issues of mental health and wellbeing.
“My career in the NBA, and what followed, taught me the power of ‘this too shall pass’ – the highest moments of our career won’t last forever, nor will the lowest,” said Jayson Williams, Managing Director of Oaktree Sports Ventures. “What matters more than anything is surrounding yourself with people you trust who keep you grounded. I’ve been privileged to help many former athletes and struggling individuals find hope and opportunity, and I’m excited to leverage the Oaktree team’s combined expertise across business, legal and public affairs, and branding to help more people achieve their goals – in and out of the arena.”
About Oaktree Solutions
Oaktree Solutions is a public affairs and venture consulting firm that specializes in reducing complexity to deliver strategies that work. We help our clients succeed by offering services in issue advocacy and market positioning, litigation support, crisis management, government relations strategy, business development consulting, C-suite problem-solving, and equity and sustainability consulting.
About Oaktree Sports Ventures
Oaktree Sports Ventures matches the talent and drive that professional athletes bring to the game with expertise and resources to help them optimize their future. Oaktree Sports Ventures’ team develops and implements bespoke solutions for each client that amplifies and accelerates their value and financial opportunity. This includes everything from identifying partnerships and sponsorships, to reputational growth and protection, to financial planning and post-sports career development.
