Steve Mills Leaving MSG For Role With Magic Johnson Enterprises
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Mills Heading To Magic
Johnson Enterprises |
MSG Sports Teams President of Business Operations STEVE MILLS is leaving the organization after nearly a decade to work for Magic Johnson Enterprises, industry sources said. Mills, who has not yet left MSG, has been with the organization since September ‘99. He switched from MSG Sports President & COO to his current position last July, when NBA league exec SCOTT O'NEIL was named MSG Sports President. MSG VP/Communications JUSTIN EDELMAN had no comment on the matter. With a new president, Mills’ departure was not unexpected. His tenure as Garden management included the hiring of former Knicks marketer ANUCHA BROWNE SANDERS and former Knicks President of Basketball Operations and coach ISIAH THOMAS. Browne Sanders, a former SBD/SBJ Forty Under 40 winner, won $11.5M in the ‘07 settlement of a sexual harassment suit against Thomas and MSG. Mills joined the Knicks as Exec VP/Franchise Operations and became MSG President in June ‘01. Prior to joining MSG, Mills spent 16 years in the NBA league offices, last serving as Senior VP/Basketball & Player Development. Sources said Mills hopes to teach, possibly at his alma mater Princeton (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY). A source said that Mills "will work on helping Johnson add boxing to his portfolio." In N.Y., Marc Berman writes Mills was "extremely well-liked in the organization." In a rare statement, MSG Chair JAMES DOLAN said, "Steve is a very talented executive, who is also a man of great integrity" (N.Y. POST, 5/8). Mills' "authority and influence at [MSG] have diminished over the past year" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/8).
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