Zee French Biography

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Zee French
Associate Athletics Director of Strategic Ticketing
Zee French joined the Virginia athletics department in 2010 as the associate athletics director of strategic ticketing. He previously worked as the senior director of ticket services with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

French heads up a unit that focuses on sales and complements the athletics ticket office. In the position he focuses on sales and retention of ticket purchasers and collaborates with the marketing department to create promotions, events and benefits packages to assist in that effort. The unit’s staff includes current University students with a goal of developing individuals who can be placed in full-time jobs throughout the sports industry. The staff works in all areas of ticket sales, including season tickets, single-game tickets and group sales and servicing ticket holders and the day-to-day needs of the season ticket base.

French was a member of the Houston Rockets’ ticket operation from 2000 to 2010. He joined the Rockets as season sales executive and worked in that capacity for three years. He managed the relocation of season ticket holders from the Compaq Center to Toyota Center in early 2003 and was promoted to manager of ticket and premium services for the Rockets in late 2003. French became the Rockets’ director of ticket and premium services in 2005 and was promoted to senior director of ticket services in 2010.

From 2003-2010, French managed a 10-person services department that worked to create a menu of benefits and deliver outstanding customer experiences to suite holders, club seat holders and season ticket holders. The department was responsible for the retention, relocation and upgrading of those groups each season.

French is a native of Stanardsville, Va. He was an Echols Scholar at UVa and graduated with a degree in economics in 1998. He served as a manager with the men’s basketball team during his four years as an undergraduate at Virginia.

Prior to working with the Houston Rockets, French was manager of women’s services and junior golf for the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA). He also did internships with DC United of Major League Soccer and with the VSGA.

French’s wife, Andrea, is also a graduate of UVa and they have two daughters.