Menu
Game Changers

Kelly Hyne, LPGA

Photo by: LPGA

K
elly Hyne has been working for the LPGA since 2002, but 2016 ranks as one of her busiest and most accomplished years working for the property.

Kelly Hyne
LPGA,
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
In February, Hyne was named senior vice president of strategic partnerships, a promotion that came just before some significant business initiatives for the LPGA, including a groundbreaking partnership with the PGA Tour announced in March. The partnership calls for the PGA Tour to handle TV negotiations on behalf of the LPGA. Other discussions include holding a combined event between the two properties as well as pursuing additional business efforts.

“It is a close alliance on all fronts,” Hyne said. “Certainly TV is where we will be working closely, and you will see a lot of things in terms of communications as well.”

Hyne was a key figure in the LPGA’s second staging this year of the UL International Crown tournament outside of Chicago featuring top players from around the world. New business development, licensing and merchandising efforts for the LPGA are also part of Hyne’s job description, and by the end of this year, the LPGA will open 10 merchandise stores in Korea.

“Overall, working together on different partnerships has been the key,” Hyne said. “It is getting us opportunities that we couldn’t do on our own. We are jointly growing the game.”

Despite her broad array of duties, Hyne still holds fast to her vast experience in tournament operations, and she is closely involved in planning the 2018 UL International Crown to be played overseas.

“Working with partners is where my passion lies,” she said. “I enjoy coming up with different ways to integrate sponsors in our events.”

— John Lombardo

  • An attribute I look for when hiring: Cultural fit; do they “act like a founder”? Acting like a founder is acting like the 13 women (founders) who started the LPGA in 1950, doing whatever it takes to create a tour that gives women professionals an opportunity to realize their dreams and then paying it forward; inspiring the next generation to leave it better than they found it — and that’s what the LPGA team does every day.
  • A networking tip I’ve learned: Jot notes on business cards after meeting people then follow up — and surprise them. Whenever I meet someone with a young daughter, I always follow up and send a Girls Golf packet, and it’s really rewarding when in return they send a video or photo of their daughters learning to play golf.
  • Biggest challenge I face working in sports: Getting prospective partners to go from appreciating and watching women’s golf to investing. Our LPGA professionals are unbelievable ambassadors for the sport, and their approachability with fans and the way they connect with business partners is what makes them great. Our tagline is “See Why It’s Different Out Here.” We just need partners to be open to investing in women sports versus sometimes putting all their resources into men’s sports.
  • Best advice I’ve received for career development: Embrace opportunity and change — and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
  • Woman in sports business I’d most like to meet: Lisa Baird. The Olympics is the ultimate global event, and it would be interesting to hear the stories behind working with TOP partners on their impactful programs.
  • Most memorable sporting event attended: The Solheim Cup, because seeing what happens when our players put on the red, white and blue or blue/gold for Europe: You just know you’re going to witness some career highlight moments, and it always delivers.
  • Causes supported: LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, United Way.

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2016/09/12/Game-Changers/Kelly-Hyne.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2016/09/12/Game-Changers/Kelly-Hyne.aspx

CLOSE