MMA News: PFL Strengthens Management Team With New Top Executives

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) strengthens its executive team with the addition of Tim Clyne and Jon Werther.

Clyne comes in as PFL’s new chief financial officer. He brings over two decades of experience as a financial executive to the company.

Clyne is well established in media, entertainment, and lifestyle, having most recently served as CFO for Ion Media Networks, where he had a hand in managing the sale of ION Media to The E.W. Scripps Company.

Moreover, he has held leadership positions at IMAX Corporation and SFX Entertainment.

“I am thrilled to join such a forward-thinking and innovative organization like the Professional Fighters League,” said Clyne. “The PFL has an ambitious global growth strategy as the No. 2 MMA league and I’m excited to be part of this high-performing team that continues to disrupt the sports space.”

Werther, meanwhile, joins the PFL as executive vice president for strategic partnerships and new businesses, where he will spearhead international expansion efforts and fresh business initiatives.

Werther also brings in over 20 years of experience in digital operations, strategy, and business development. He spent nearly a decade combined at America Online, serving as a vice president for corporate strategy and business development, and then later on as an executive vice president for integrated operations.

In addition, Werther has served as a vice president at Time Warner, as well as president at Simulmedia and Meredith Corporation.

“The PFL is positioned for aggressive international expansion and revenue diversification,” Werther stated. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to develop new business, and to capitalize on PFL’s market position, IP and assets. I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues and business partners.”

Clyne and Werther will back up an executive team led by chairman and co-founder Donn Davis and PFL CEO Peter Murray.

“As a global and innovative league, PFL continues to be a disruptor and we are thrilled to expand the team by bringing in two experienced executives like Jon and Tim,” Murray shared. “They will bring their expertise and leadership to amplify the next phase of growth for the PFL and I look forward to working with them.”

PFL will be returning to action for its 2021 season on April 23rd, which could be the league's biggest yet.

Joining this year's million-dollar championship tournament will be a mix of former world champions, defending titleholders, and top contenders.

Back to defend their world championships will be reigning titleholders such as women's lightweight champion Kayla Harrison, two-time featherweight kingpin Lance Palmer, two-time lightweight ruler Natan Schulte, and reigning welterweight champion Ray Cooper III.

Meanwhile, newcomers such as Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis and Rory MacDonald will all try to add more gold to their collection.

Perhaps the most interesting addition to PFL's roster this year is none other than three-division boxing champion Claressa Shields, who is expected to make her mixed martial arts debut in a feature attraction this season.

PFL 1 on April 23rd will be headlined by Pettis facing Clay Collard in a lightweight main event. On the other hand, PFL 2 on April 29th will be starred by MacDonald, who is set to duke it out with former welterweight tournament finalist David Michaud.