Carl A. Thomas

About Carl A. Thomas

A visionary leader in sales, business development, and global expansion, Carl A. Thomas specializes in transforming companies, driving revenue growth, and building high-performing teams. With a track record of scaling businesses across sports, entertainment, and technology, he\'s led multi-million-dollar deals, secured strategic partnerships, and driven M&A success for top-tier organizations.As a former C-Suite executive, Carl has navigated high-growth and turnaround environments, expanding markets internationally and optimizing operations for sustainable profitability. His expertise spans private equity, venture capital, and large-scale sponsorships, having raised over $16M in growth capital and negotiated $400M in strategic partnerships.Beyond the boardroom, Carl shares insights on leadership, innovation, and business strategy as the creator and host of The Best Boss Ever podcast, where he engages with top executives and industry disruptors to uncover what truly drives success.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Drvn Sports & Entertainment

   Jan 2026 — Present

   With a career spanning several decades, Carl Thomas is a seasoned executive with a proven track record of securing over $400MM in verifiable business growth across sports, entertainment, media, and technology sectors on both domestic and international fronts. His expertise in building and leading high-performing teams is complemented by his adeptness in aligning core business initiatives with profitable outcomes.Most recently as Senior Vice President at ASM Global (now Legends Global), he played a critical role in assembling a formidable commercial partnerships team, achieving historic revenue growth from Naming Rights to multi-venue sponsorship agreements, and contributing to ASM\'s $2.3 billion acquisition.Prior to ASM Global, he held a dual role as Chief Revenue Officer and Global Head of Business Development at Hookit (now Two Circles). Between 2015 and 2018, Carl increased sales revenue by 400%, expanded the global customer base, and helped secure $16 million in Series C Growth Capital.As CRO/CMO at Tickets.com, he grew sales by 40% over three years, and helped facilitate the company\'s sale to Major League Baseball Advanced Media. His prior experience includes significant leadership roles at Universal Studios, Association of Volleyball Professionals, CAT Sports, Inc, and Speedo Swimwear, showcasing his versatility and strategic acumen.Lastly, as Founder/CEO of The Best Boss Ever LLC, since 2020, Carl has helmed this venture, where he hosts the acclaimed \"The Best Boss Ever Podcast Series,\" featuring over 100 episodes available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Education

• Villanova University

  Multiple Graduate Math and Business Course Work

• UCLA

  Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology

Skills

• New Business Development
• Business Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Product Management
• Sponsorship
• Sales
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Online Advertising
• Online Marketing
• Market Planning
• Integrated Marketing
• Strategic Partnerships
• Public Relations
• Business Strategy
• Marketing
• Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Social Media Marketing
• Product Development
• Business-to-Business (B2b)
• Social Media
• Leadership
• Business Development
• Digital Marketing
• Brand Development
• Event Management
• Digital Strategy
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Entrepreneurship
• B2b
• Product Marketing
• Competitive Analysis
• Start-Ups
• Entertainment
• Advertising
• Marketing Communications