Serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing/COO for GMB Management, LLC., Ben Hales oversees the marketing and operational efforts for both the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, as well as Gayle Benson's additional business ventures, overseeing the implementation of business operations that are aligned with short-term and long-term business goals for all her enterprises. Hales, who enters his 25th season with the Saints and 13th with the Pelicans, spent seven years as the Saints Vice President of Marketing and Business Development (2006-12) and six as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development (2012-17) for both the Saints and Pelicans.
On a daily basis with the teams, Hales directs the two teams' marketing, creative and business intelligence efforts, as well as their game and event presentation. He is intricately involved in both clubs' critical planning of short-term and long-range marketing and operations efforts. Hales' duties also entail the playing facility operations at the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center, promotions, advertising and special events.
During the 2012-13 NBA season, the Hornets franchise announced that they would re-brand following the season and become the New Orleans Pelicans. Hales was instrumental in the re-branding efforts from start to finish, helping to first conceptualize the look to represent the Pelicans namesake and leading the planning for the official announcement in January of 2013.
Hales joined the Saints in 2000 as a corporate sales account executive. In 2001, he was promoted to corporate sales and broadcasting manager before becoming a director the following year, assuming the responsibilities of business and marketing operations.
Prior to joining the Saints, Hales worked in television advertising. In addition to his community efforts on behalf of the team, Hales serves on the Super Bowl Bid Executive Committee, the Catholic Community Foundation, GNO, Inc. and the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Hales has also served on the Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee Executive Committee, NBA All-Star Host Committee, NCAA Final Four Committee and as a member of the New Orleans City Park Board of Commissioners.
In 2013, Hales was honored as a Young Leadership Council (YLC) Role Model and was named as one of The Gambit's 40 under 40 in 2012.
A New Orleans native and longtime Saints season ticket holder before joining the club, Hales earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Mississippi in 1996.
