By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

Madison Square Garden president Scott O’Neil, an influential executive with strong connections to the NBA and the powerful Creative Artists Agency, has resigned after four years with MSG.

“We are grateful for Scott’s years of service and his many contributions to the company, and wish him the very best of luck as he moves forward. We are fortunate to have a talented team in place at MSG Sports who will continue to build on the company’s successes while we undertake a search for a new President of MSG Sports,” Madison Square Garden Company said in a statement released Wednesday.

O’Neil does not have another job lined up yet, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on O’Neil’s behalf. O’Neil sent a statement to USA TODAY Sports and other outlets.

“My time at The World’s Most Famous Arena has been nothing short of incredible and I am proud of our results,” O’Neil said in a statement. “I am thankful and extremely proud of what we accomplished at MSG Sports. There is nothing more rewarding than the opportunity to help build a world-class staff and seeing them perform beyond our loftiest expectations – people I consider not only the most talented in the business, but also true friends. To help lead and steward iconic brands like the Knicks and Rangers and sell the transformed Garden in a city like New York has been a true privilege. I could not be more excited about the process of discovering what lies ahead.”

O’Neil, who graduated from Villanova and Harvard Business School, joined MSG in July 2008 after leaving the NBA as senior vice president of marketing and business operations.

O’Neil was at the forefront of Madison Square Garden’s renovation project, landing several endorsement partnerships with big-name brands, including JPMorgan Chase, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch and Delta Airlines.

O’Neil worked with CAA to bring Delta aboard as a Madison Square Garden signature sponsor. O’Neil connection to CAA was important for the Knicks. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Miami Heat forwards LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Heat guard Dwyane Wade and … [For more on Madison Square Garden president resigns, click here.]