Sport Ngin taps Minnesota tech veteran Bell as chief revenue officer

Sport Ngin, the Minneapolis developer of software for sports leagues, said Monday it hired Brian Bell as chief revenue officer.

Bell was most recently president and chief operating officer at Code42, another Minneapolis software firm, and earlier was sales chief at Compellent Technologies Inc., a provider of data storage technology in Eden Prairie that is now a unit of Dell Inc.

Bell will lead the sales, account management and customer support groups at Sport Ngin and report to chief executive Justin Kaufenberg.

Sport Ngin provides a Web-based service for coaches and participants in amateur sports leagues to schedule practices and games, keep records, track payments and communicate.

In a statement, Kaufenberg said Bell has a strong record at software-as-a-service companies. "Knowing Brian for multiple years, and watching the meteoric growth he has driven in his past roles, I knew he would be the perfect fit," he said in the statement.

Bell said that he sees a lot of opportunity for Sport Ngin in what he called the "multibillion-dollar market" of amateur sports.

"Youth sports have played an important role within my family, and I've seen them cultivate strong characteristics of self-discipline, respect, and teamwork" Bell said in a statement. "I look forward to working with technology that enhances the youth sports experience, and directs more focus to the development of the athlete."

Bell left Code42 in April after nearly three years at the company. Code42 at the time called Bell "a major force" in its growth. That company, which provides data backup, synchronization and other software-as-a-service products, has been undergoing a leadership transition from its founders to new chief executive brought in from the outside.

Before entering the Minnesota tech industry, Bell spent nine years in the Air Force as an fighter pilot.

Evan Ramstad • 612-673-4241