WASHINGTON SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ANNOUNCES REORGANIZATION
June 26, 2007
Washington Sports and Entertainment Chairman Abe Pollin announced today a restructuring of the company. The reorganization will take effect July 1.
"Our company has tremendous assets in the employees that work here," said Pollin. "In this reorganization, I am capitalizing on those assets. We have exceptionally talented managers and marketers here and I am extremely excited about giving many of these employees additional responsibility as we move Washington Sports and Entertainment into a very exciting future."
The following divisions of Washington Sports and Entertainment will undergo reorganization as described below:
BASKETBALL:
Ernie Grunfeld now assumes the title of President of the Wizards, directing the basketball fortunes of the company. Grunfeld will continue to represent the team at the NBA’s Board of Governors.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS:
Peter Biche, who has served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer for 11 years, will now add the title of President of Business Operations of the company to his duties.
Jane Taylor has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer and will oversee the Marketing, Community Relations (working with Senior Vice President Judy Holland-Burton), Game Operations, Public Relations, and Website departments.
Mark Schiponi has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Chief Sales Officer and will oversee Ticket Sales, Corporate Marketing and Executive Suite sales (working with Senior Vice President Rick Moreland), and Customer Service (working with Vice President Rhonda Ballute).
CHIEF OF STAFF:
Pollin has tabbed 18-year Washington Sports and Entertainment veteran Matt Williams to serve as the company’s Executive Vice President. Williams will report directly to Pollin, acting as his chief of staff, and will represent Pollin’s interests in all aspects of the business as well as his outside interests. He will continue to be Pollin’s spokesman to the media, staff and public.
FACILITY OPERATIONS:
Long-time arena management veteran Gary Handleman has been promoted to President of Facility Operations. In addition to his duties managing Verizon Center and Patriot Center, the Booking and Entertainment Department and the company’s in-house television unit (under the direction of Vice President Earnie Fingers) will now report to Handleman.
EMPLOYEE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
Mary Davis, President, Employee and Administrative Services, will continue to oversee this division and will report directly to Pollin. The Information Technology/Voice and Data department had been moved to her division.
LEGAL AFFAIRS:
Marianne Niles has been promoted to Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the company.
The TicketMaster and Pollin Properties divisions of Washington Sports and Entertainment were unaffected by the reorganization.
The restructuring comes on the heels of the announcement that President Susan O’Malley has elected not to renew her contract with the company. O’Malley continues to advise Pollin through this transition.
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