Next Level Sports Marketing

Bruce Popko, a senior vice president with IMG, has been named the new senior vice president of business development for the Buffalo Bills.

Popko replaces Pete Guelli, who left the Bills earlier this month, to join the staff of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Popko, who will be moving to Buffalo from Cleveland, was a senior vice president at IMG, overseeing its major golf events. IMG is among the largest sports marketing agencies.

Before joining IMG, Popko was employed by the Cleveland Browns working on the team’s business strategies and partnerships when they returned the NFL in 1998. Popko also worked on sales and sponsorship for the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.

The Bills had more than 120 corporate sponsors last year.

“Bruce has a long history of success in both the National Football League and the sports marketing industry and we are looking forward to having him continue the development and growth of our business strategies,” Russ Brandon, Bills chief operating officer and general manager, said in a prepared release.

Popko will start with the Bills early next month. He and his family will be relocated from Cleveland.