MLS Galaxy, DC United Make Personnel Changes In Front Offices

The MLS Galaxy yesterday promoted VP CHRIS KLEIN to President. Klein previously served as the Senior Dir of the Galaxy Academy before taking on the role of VP in February '12 (Galaxy). SOCCERAMERICA.com's Paul Kennedy wrote Klein was "one of the key figures in the MLS Players Union during its negotiations with MLS over a collective bargaining agreement," but he now "sits on the other side of the table." In a little more than two years since his retirement as a player, he has "quickly moved up the corporate ladder." A certified financial planner, Klein was "known for helping advise young teammates on how to handle their finances." He will now work "closely" with new AEG COO KELLY CHEESEMAN while continuing to oversee the business operations of the club (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 1/28).

UNITED WE STAND: DC United yesterday promoted CFO MICHAEL WILLIAMSON to COO & CFO and Senior VP/Marketing Communications DOUG HICKS to CMO. The club also named Foreign Policy magazine VP & Associate Publisher MIKE SCHOENBRUN VP/Business Development & Partnerships. Meanwhile, the club announced that JOSH COHEN (ticket operations), AMANDA FARINA (marketing), REBECCA PAYNE (digital media), ANDREW SKORUPSKI (finance), ROY TEWELL (ticket sales) and RYAN TRONOVITCH (media relations) have assumed roles as department leads (DC United). In DC, Steven Goff noted the club "decided not to fill" the roles held by former President & CEO KEVIN PAYNE, who left in November to become Toronto FC President. Goff noted the front office has "undergone considerable change since" club investor JASON LEVIEN partnered with ERICK THOHIR and WILL CHANG. In addition to the exits of Payne and former Exec VP STEPHEN ZACK, "several employees in ticketing, marketing and communications were dismissed" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/28).