MLB Completes Reorganization Of Central Office; New Titles For Bowman, Petitti

MLB Commissioner-elect ROB MANFRED has completed a major reorganization of the league's central office, led in part by the designation of MLBAM President & CEO BOB BOWMAN as MLB President of Business & Media. MLB Network President & CEO TONY PETITTI will become MLB COO, assuming many of the duties Manfred will vacate as he ascends next month to commissioner. Manfred will have five other direct reports: VP/Labor Relations DAN HALEM, who becomes Chief Legal Officer; Exec VP/Baseball Operations JOE TORRE, who becomes Chief Baseball Officer; Senior VP/PR PAT COURTNEY, who becomes Chief Communications Officer; longtime MLB consultant BOB STARKEY, who becomes the league's new CFO; and JONATHAN MARINER, who shifts from CFO & Exec VP/Finance to a new position as MLB Chief Investment Officer. The changes take effect immediately in advance of Manfred's formal succession of the retiring BUD SELIG on Jan. 25. The shifts, along with a pending merger of separate BODs for MLBAM and MLB Enterprises, also unite all of baseball's business structure that had been divided since the arrival of MLBAM nearly 15 years ago.

DETAILING THE CHANGES: Bowman's new title is slightly different than the Chief Revenue Officer previously thought, but he will lead all of baseball's revenue-generating and media activities, including MLBAM, MLB Network, national media, sponsorship and licensing. Petitti's areas of focus will include marketing, events, community relations, and international operations. Both Bowman and Petitti will relocate out of their current locales in Manhattan's Chelsea District and Secaucus, N.J., respectively, and work primarily out of MLB's Park Avenue HQ in N.Y. Starkey also will shift from his base in Minneapolis and work primarily from N.Y. The changes have been in development since Manfred was elected in August to succeed Selig. MLB yesterday formally announced the long-expected departure of Exec VP/Business TIM BROSNAN, effective at the end of January. Manfred said of his new exec team, "This accomplished group has extensive experience working for Major League Baseball and shares my enthusiasm for our game's future and the many exciting opportunities ahead. I believe that their new roles will greatly benefit the game's long-term initiatives." MLB Exec VP/Administration & CIO JOHN MCHALE will remain in his current role and report to Petitti.