World eSports Association hires former boxing exec Ken Hershman

The World eSports Association seems to be looking to the world of boxing to help shape its organizational future. ESPN reports that WESA has hired Ken Hershman, formerly president of HBO Sports and Showtime Sports, to be its executive chairman.  

He’s also been named WESA Agency, the eSports organization’s media organization, which is based out of both New York and Switzerland. 

While at HBO and Showtime, ESPN writes he was primarily known for shepherding the companies’ boxing franchises, which seems to indicate WESA was looking for specific kind of expertise to help build the tournaments and relationships it needs to run an eSports league. 

He’s credited with helping HBO Sports arrange the much-touted Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, and for building Showtime’s boxing organization despite competition from stronger rivals. Given the boxing world's long history of controversies and exhausting labor in managing fights, it might be the expertise WESA needs in the face of criticism about how it's managing its top brass.  

For those just getting caught up on the still-burgeoning world of eSports, WESA was founded back in May by the ESL and several pro teams to help “professionalize” eSports tournaments.