EXCLUSIVE: Former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan has joined Vice Media‘s board of directors and is expected to play a key role in helping the company’s push into sports programming.
Deadline was the first to report last December on the creation of a sports division at Vice, which has a number of unscripted projects in the pipeline.
Ayers Badan will be the only independent director on the board, serving with Executive Chairman Mike Lang and directors connected with the company’s owners, Fortress Investment Group, Soros Capital Management and Monroe Capital. The firms teamed to acquire Vice out of bankruptcy in 2023.
In a seven-plus-year run at Barstool, Ayers Badan led the company’s expansion from regional blog to a nationally recognized brand and global media company. In building its leading podcast business, she oversaw the launch of breakout franchises like Pat McAfee’s show and Call Her Daddy. Ayers Badan is currently CEO of Food52, a digital content and commerce company aimed at cooking, home and food enthusiasts.
“Erika is an innovative media executive, who brings significant digital, sports and content creation experience to the Vice board,” Lang said. “We look forward to leveraging her expertise as we enter our next phase of strategic growth – with Erika joining our Board being the latest example of the
momentum we’re building at Vice.”
“I have always had so much respect for the Vice brand and mission to be an authentic and
alternative voice,” said Ayers Badan. “I spent a lot of time studying Vice as we were building
Barstool Sports, and it’s exciting to be part of the company’s future. I look forward to partnering
with Mike and the board.”
