NBA Chief Marketer Tammy Henault to Depart

NBA chief marketing officer Tammy Henault is leaving after three years in the role.

She will depart at the end of September.

Henault joined the NBA in 2022 to lead global marketing for the league and its affiliates. Her goal was to “further the organization’s mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball,” she said at the time.

Over the past few years, Henault has helped expand the NBA’s global fan base, deepen engagement and cultural relevancy, and drive digital innovation through initiatives such as the Next Gen platform.

She developed integrated strategies across data, community, experiential, and creator marketing. She also spearheaded the NBA’s new brand identity, rolled out experiences like the NBA House, helped with launches such as the new in-season tournament, and forged partnerships including a global collaboration with UnitedMasters’ stable of music artists.

Henault oversaw lauded campaigns such as “The Gift of Game” 2023 holiday ad; 2023’s “The Heist,” which garnered nearly 500 million views globally, plus its sequel; and “Unforgettable Awaits” for the 2025 Finals, starring Mindy Kaling and Kevin Costner.

During her tenure, the NBA broke attendance records, hitting its second-highest numbers for the 2024-2025 season following the 2023-2024 season that broke records in every category.

Following the exit of its chief diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer Lesley Slaton Brown this month, the NBA is forming a new sub-department called Social Impact and Inclusion, ADWEEK […]

Henault confirmed her departure from the NBA in a LinkedIn post on Friday, saying that she’d be taking a “power pause” to explore new opportunities.

“What an extraordinary privilege it has been to help grow and evolve one of the most iconic brands in the world–expanding our global audience, deepening fan engagement, driving digital innovation, and strengthening the NBA’s cultural impact,” Henault wrote.

Henault declined to comment beyond the LinkedIn post.

In a statement provided to ADWEEK, the NBA confirmed Henault’s departure and said marketing will be managed by “the group’s current leadership team on an interim basis.”

According to an internal memo to staff, written by NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum and obtained by ADWEEK, that leadership team includes Janine Dugre, svp of creative services, brand, and advertising; Andy Heatley, svp of media strategy; Claisian Phillips, svp of DTC and partnerships marketing; Jenny Whitlock, svp global head of fan marketing; Jonathan Hsu, head of marketing Operations, and Dana Tarricone, vp, head of international marketing.

“During her time with the league, Tammy oversaw a number of initiatives to build awareness and viewership of NBA tentpole events, drive fan engagement across traditional and digital media platforms, and deepen our relationship with fans globally,” Tatum wrote. “We thank Tammy for her many contributions and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Prior to the NBA, Henault was senior vice president of marketing for Paramount+, where she oversaw brand marketing, partnerships, growth, and engagement for the streaming service. Before that, she worked at The New York Times and led customer acquisition and retention for its digital subscription business.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with a statement from the NBA, as well as and information from a memo sent to staff about Henault’s departure.