Stats Names Software Exec Carl Mergele CEO, Replacing Ken Fuchs

Stats LLC today named software exec Carl Mergele its new CEO, replacing veteran sports industry leader Ken Fuchs. Mergele, most recently with Lexmark Enterprise Software, will lead day-to-day business for the Chicago-based sports data and analytics company, owned by Vista Equity Partners. Fuchs, formerly with Time Inc., Yahoo and Fox Interactive Media, had led the company since late '15 and recently oversaw a deeper push into advanced player analytics and AI, as well as the addition of Casey Wasserman to the company’s BOD.

Stats execs described the parting as amicable, though Fuchs was not available for comment, and he was not mentioned in a company announcement of Mergele’s appointment. Fuchs’ predecessor at Stats, Gary Walrath, had been pushed out by Vista in '15. “We see this as the next evolution of our business,” said Stats Chief Revenue Officer Richard Henderson of Mergele’s arrival. “Carl’s a heavy hitter, and he has a really good track record of bringing products and services to market very quickly.”