CO-FOUNDER/CEO, ATHLETES FIRST
WHY: Laguna Hills sports marketing agency Athletes First, or A1 Partners, which counts QB Aaron Rodgers among its 300+ NFL clients.
IN THE NEWS: Got a pair of VC investors, Mastry Ventures and General Catalyst, to buy a majority stake in the firm near start of year. Murphy will remain the CEO of the agency and run day-to-day operations, firms said after deal.
NOTEABLE: National reports say the latest deal values Athletes First “significantly more” than its $50M valuation in 2015, when Japanese ad firm Dentsu bought a one-third stake in the sports agency.
