The Golden State Warriors have been an NBA team driven by innovation and technology in a number of ways — whether it’s by the team partnering with Rakuten or individual players like Kevin Durant working closely with a number of Silicon Valley tech companies.
Now, Warriors president and COO Rick Welts — a longtime sports executive — is getting more involved with the technology business, as he has joined action camera company GoPro’s Board of Directors.
“Rick Welts’ leadership, creativity, and passion have made him one of the most respected individuals in the NBA. Not only does he have a record of building championship teams, he’s also an extraordinarily talented business, operating and marketing executive,” Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro said. “We are fortunate to add Rick to GoPro’s board of directors during this exciting new era of growth and profitability.”
Welts, who led the drive to have the Warriors’ new Chase Center built in San Francisco, wrote that he too knows something about making tough decisions, risk-taking, highs and lows, and bouncing back. The Warriors’ first proposed site in San Francisco with the Bay Bridge in the backdrop did not work out, but the groundbreaking at an alternate site has taken place. GoPro has had its issues as well with a drone recall before it was relaunched.
Another component that attracted Welts to GoPro is what he sees as the company’s “commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.”
“This is especially meaningful to me because just before joining the Warriors, after a lifetime of keeping it private, I decided to publicly come out as gay. Needless to say that as the highest-ranking executive in the NBA to ever come out, this was a significant and impactful life decision,” Welts wrote.
“I’m proud to join the board of a company with an incredible spirit, sound vales, a solid business and a terrific team. I look forward to working with the other directors in the years to come.”
