Sean Gleason

Sean Gleason is Commissioner and CEO of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), one of America’s fastest-growing sports properties. PBR now has 82.5 million fans in the U.S., according to ESPN Sports Poll, and its broadcasts on CBS Sports average more than 1 million U.S. viewers. Outside the U.S. PBR is now seen in 130 territories around the world through global television distribution.

Gleason was named PBR’s CEO in 2015 – the year the organization was acquired by global sports and entertainment leader, Endeavor. Before assuming the CEO post (he was named Commissioner in 2020), Gleason spent 15 years as a senior executive overseeing nearly every aspect of the sport, including corporate and event marketing, sponsorship sales, fan relations, licensing, and digital media.

Gleason has developed and championed many innovative programs to move America’s original extreme sport into the mainstream. These include: RidePass on Pluto TV, a 24/7 western sports digital channel; the PBR Global Cup and PBR Majors; and PBR Team Series – a new elite bull-riding league with 8 teams competing in 2022.
In 2020, when COVID-19 sidelined the sports industry, under Gleason’s leadership, PBR developed industry-leading safety protocols to become the first sport to deliver closed, televised events in April 2020, 41 days after the mandated shut down, and then the first to invite fans back into an indoor arena for ticketed events beginning in mid-July. PBR’s new safety protocols were shared with other leagues to help them return to competition.
Prior to joining PBR in 2001, Gleason oversaw the marketing and business development for all sports projects at Sierra Sports, including the best-selling NASCAR Racing, Trophy Bass and NFL Football Pro titles. He served as executive or supervising producer of six Grammy-nominated video and record projects and six multi-platinum video projects while with Miramar Productions, Inc.
Gleason is a graduate of Western Washington University.