Kristen Banks, Adam Summerell and Mary Wittenberg
Featured image credit: Raiders / Secutix / Gotham FC
We round up the latest movements from the stadium sector and associated industries…
The Las Vegas Raiders has announced a new chief operating officer as part of a management reshuffle that sees four changes at the top of the business.
Mike Newquist, previously at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and UFC, has been appointed senior vice-president, chief operating officer. Newquist brings three decades of leadership experience in operations, ticket sales, strategic planning, and business analytics.
Kristen Banks, formerly at UFC, has been appointed senior vice-president, marketing. A marketing leader with more than 15 years of experience, Banks (pictured left) has extensive expertise working with global brands to drive national and international data-driven, direct-to-consumer campaigns, while identifying new avenues and channels for content monetisation.
Piper Overstreet-White has been promoted to senior vice-president of government and community relations. Heather DeSanto has been promoted to senior vice-president of human resources.
“To deliver wins off the field, there needs to be extraordinary talent leading our institution and a culture of collaboration and accountability at all levels,” said Raiders president Sandra Douglass Morgan.
“That starts with a world-class leadership team that is both committed to our mission and reflects our fan base and communities touched by our organisation. I look forward to working with this dynamic group of leaders as we meet the high standard of excellence that the Raiders, our partners, and our community expect.”
Secutix has hired Adam Summerell (centre) as a senior solutions architect for its Americas business.
Summerell will bring his more than 20 years of collegiate and professional sports team ticketing expertise to promote Secutix’s SaaS and blockchain-based solutions for customers across the Americas. Secutix is also moving from Boca Raton to a larger office in Fort Lauderdale to meet the growing demand in the Americas.
Summerell has previously worked for Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, Florida Panthers and FLA LIVE Arena, and, most recently, Inter Miami CF.
“Adam’s deep ticketing industry expertise and experience with US sports teams provides our team in the Americas with the knowledge to discuss the benefits and value of our controlled loop ticketing platform to the North American customers looking for a better way to manage their ticketing operations and improve the fan experience,” said Michael McDermott, general manager of Secutix Americas.
NJ/NY Gotham FC, who play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has announced the appointment of Mary Wittenberg (right) as president.
Wittenberg was the first woman named president and chief executive of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and became the first woman race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. Wittenberg has also served as the founding chief executive of Virgin Sport, president of the Tour de France EF Pro Cycling team, and founding president of League One Volleyball.
As Gotham FC president, Wittenberg will lead the business, collaborating with general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West as well as new CFO Chris Heider.
“I am thrilled to join Gotham FC as president,” said Wittenberg. “It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to build a world-renowned women’s football club that inspires. Hats off to our owners, players, staff, and fans. I can’t wait to start supporting this incredible community at this transformative time for the club and league, to serve our fans, and welcome vision-aligned brands that want to grow with us.”
John Ledwidge – the groundsman who caught the eye with artistic pitch patterns at Leicester City – has become head of grounds at Manchester City.
Ledwidge grew a reputation for artistic patterns at the King Power Stadium, but was told to revert back to standard stripes after the Premier League put a stop to any elaborate designs ahead of the 2017-18 campaign. Simon Gibson will replace Ledwidge at Leicester.
Ledwidge said: “It is with sadness in my heart, but excitement for the future I want to announce that, after nearly 10 years at Leicester City Football Club I’m moving on to, take on a new challenge as head Of grounds at Manchester City Football Club.
“In my time here we have truly built something special and that’s all thanks every single one of my team from the original six members to all 53 of us today!
“I would like to thank the Srivaddhanaprabha family for supporting my dreams and ambitions in my time here and the board of directors for believing in me and my ambitions to build one of the best grounds teams in the country.”
Philipp Wunderlich has been appointed global head of marketing and business development at Red Bull Soccer.
Wunderlich was previously based in Shanghai as head of East Asia for Bayern Munich, and also held senior marketing roles with Liverpool FC and RB Leipzig.
Do you have news of an appointment that we should know about? Get in touch by emailing news.editor@thestadiumbusiness.com and we’ll include it in our next round-up.
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