Gruning joins Indy Racing as vice president of sales
Gruning will be responsible for all sales and new business development as well as the league's client services efforts and hospitality. He will also be responsible for managing the league's recently announced consultancy with Just Marketing International, and he will serve as point person for any and all agency requests made to the league.
"Greg is a results driven individual who brings us proven performance in areas of strategic business and marketing planning and his motorsports background affords us an added advantage," Angstadt said. "We are on the threshold of a very active and optimistic era for IndyCar Series racing and its drivers, teams and events and Greg's experience and knowledge will help us deliver the story of the sport's excitement, relevancy and value in today's sponsorship marketplace.
"Our incomparable history and tradition, coupled with leading-edge technology, distinguishes the IndyCar Series as a compelling sponsorship platform."
Gruning, a 1990 graduate of Indiana University with a degree in marketing, joins the Indy Racing League from NewPage Corp. where he served as vice president, marketing and led a team responsible for launching a $2.1 billion coated-paper company while managing all functions of product, placement, price and promotion.
From 1996-2005, Gruning worked at Mead where he advanced from being a regional sales representative to director of the company's North American business development.
While at Mead, Gruning championed and worked closely with NASCAR to develop its business-to-business council which allowed companies within the sport to identify reciprocal relationships and learn best practices on how other partners leverage their sponsorship. The council is recognized within sports properties as an industry leader.