USOC Hires Search Firm Spencer Stuart To Help Look For New CEO

The USOC Thursday announced that it hired Spencer Stuart to work with it on its search for a permanent CEO, a position the organization hopes to fill before January. Jed Hughes of Spencer Stuart's N.Y. office is expected to lead the firm's effort. Spencer Stuart previously assisted the USOC on its searches for a Chief Communications Officer and Chief of Sports Performances. It beat out eight other firms being considered for the job. The USOC also named its nine-member Search & Screening Committee for the CEO position (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).

LIGHT THE FIRE: In Chicago, Philip Hersh noted there were "two noteworthy aspects" to the USOC's announcement. The committee "includes representatives of every USOC constituent group, including two members of the Athletes Advisory Committee," but it "does not include any of the U.S. sports federation (NGB) leaders who have been publicly critical of the current USOC leadership." However, there are "valid reasons for not having the two most outspoken NGB leaders," USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny and USA Triathlon CEO Skip Gilbert. Gilbert simply was "not interested in the role," while Penny's name "has been bandied about as a candidate for CEO." Meanwhile, Hersh noted USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter and two of her three immediate predecessors, Lloyd Ward and Norm Blake, "all came from corporate backgrounds." So perhaps that is "why the USOC won't a) pay the search firm until 18 months after the CEO is in place and b) retained the right to set the amount of the payment." If the result of the search is "another short-term stiff, the USOC should stiff Spencer Stuart" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 10/29).