Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY and Chair TOM WERNER agreed to a contract extension with President SAM KENNEDY that elevates him to President & CEO for both the MLB club and Fenway Sports Management. Kennedy, with the Red Sox since '02 and elevated to president in '15, will continue to report to Henry and Werner. “Sam has been a critical part of our front office, and over the past two years at the helm, has proven himself to be a successful and effective leader of this franchise,” Werner said. “John and I are impressed with the direction and values he has set forth for our club." Kennedy is a member of SBJ/SBD’s "Forty Under 40" HOF, earning the designation in ’13 (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). Kennedy said of the promotion, “I see the job as the same. But [I'm] excited and renewed. It’s always rewarding to be recognized.” In Boston, Peter Abraham notes Kennedy has had a "productive relationship" with Red Sox President of Baseball Operations DAVE DOMBROWSKI, who has been in the position nearly two years. He "described his role as providing the revenues needed for the Red Sox to maintain one of baseball’s highest payrolls." Kennedy: "Some days are more challenging than others. Seems like we’ve had a few of those this year. But I think a lot of the challenges result from the passion and energy that is Red Sox Nation" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/3). The BOSTON HERALD's Rich Thompson notes Kennedy becomes the "first to hold the title of CEO since the departure" in '15 of LARRY LUCCHINO, who now holds the title of President & CEO Emeritus. But Kennedy stressed that Dombrowski is very much the "lead baseball operations executive." Kennedy: "He always has been and continues to be (that), so he’ll make the baseball decisions" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/3).
