Bobcats Hire Michael Jordan Confidant As New President & COO
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Johnson (r) Taps Whitfield
As Bobcats President & COO |
Bobcats Sports & Entertainment named Jordan Brand Dir of Business & Legal Affairs
FRED WHITFIELD President & COO. Whitfield, whose experience also includes
stints at Nike and Falk Associate Management Enterprises, served as Wizards Dir
of Player Personnel from ’00-03, where he was responsible for the team’s salary
cap and contractual issues (Bobcats Sports & Entertainment). Whitfield
“intends to focus on business issues — marketing the team, selling tickets
and sponsorships — and leave the basketball side” to GM & coach BERNIE
BICKERSTAFF. Bobcats Owner ROBERT JOHNSON said that Bobcats Managing
Member of Basketball Operations MICHAEL JORDAN “suggested Whitfield as
a possible candidate” (BIZJOURNALS.com,
7/17). The CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL’s Erik Spanberg reports Johnson
“plans to assume the CEO job” vacated when former President & CEO ED TAPSCOTT
resigned in May. The move “is about more than just a title,” as Johnson intends
to “play a more active role” in the team’s operations (CHARLOTTE
BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/14 issue).
GOING TO MARKET: Whitfield said that it is “crucial the franchise broaden
its marketing beyond the Charlotte city limits.” While the Bobcats have a deal
with Time Warner, Johnson said of other area cable outlets, “We have to create
a demand for our product in those markets so those systems say ‘I need to kick
someone else off to put the Bobcats on.’” Whitfield “hopes to broaden the Bobcats’
appeal beyond the young, urban crowd currently attending games.” Whitfield: “We
really need to draw the whole community (including) the NASCAR crowd. They bring
125,000 people where they [race]” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/18).
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