NFLPA executive Terése Whitehead appointed NIL GM for Michigan Athletics
Altius Sports Partners and Michigan Athletics announced Wednesday that NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Terése Whitehead has been appointed U-M’s first in-house NIL Executive GM as part of the collaboration between the two entities.
Whitehead, a Michigan alum will “spearhead Michigan’s NIL program in her new role, leading the department’s strategy to provide athletes with comprehensive support and resources to capitalize on their NIL opportunities,” per the press release.
“Terése’s addition to our team marks a pivotal moment for Michigan Athletics, and I am excited to partner with her,” athletic director Warde Manuel said. “Terése is a perfect fit and uniquely qualified to lead U-M’s strategy thanks to her impressive sports background in marketing, licensing, brand development, and partnerships and her experience across agency, league, and team settings to tailor tremendous revenue-generating opportunities for teams and individual athletes. Through this joint venture with Altius Sports Partners, I am confident that Terése will quickly navigate the shifting NIL landscape to empower and positively position our student-athletes.”
Whitehead has over two decades of experience in sports and entertainment licensing, marketing and branding. She spent the last eight seasons working with the NFLPA, where she served as Vice President of Consumer Products & Strategy at NFL Players Inc., the NFLPA’s for-profit business arm. During her time there, the release says she generated more than $2.75 billion in sales while “fostering collaborations with businesses leveraging the marketing influence of NFL players” while helping boost the brand’s global footprint.
Before her time at the NFLPA, Whitehead was a senior vice president at Tandem Sports + Entertainment. She also spent time working in advertising, branding and promotions with the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers.
“Returning to the University of Michigan feels like a homecoming where my passion for sports and advocacy began,” Whitehead said. “My entire sports marketing journey has equipped me with invaluable experience, particularly in leveraging the individual and group NIL rights of professional athletes. Now, alongside Altius Sports Partners, I’m eager to apply that insight to empower U-M athletes in navigating the evolving landscape of NIL. Our goal is clear: support every stakeholder, elevate Michigan’s NIL initiatives, and shape futures both on and off the field. I’m committed to making a lasting impact, ensuring every Wolverine student-athlete feels supported, informed, and empowered to seize opportunities ahead.”
ASP’s GM program launched in July 2022 and involves 17 participating schools, including Michigan.
“This initiative offers tailored education, strategic guidance, and execution support for NIL initiatives, aligning with each institution’s unique needs and priorities,” the release says.
