Berhalter had widely been considered a front-runner to succeed Dan Flynn as USSF CEOU.S. SOCCER
U.S. Soccer Federation Chief Commercial Officer Jay Berhalter, one of the "most high-ranking and influential leaders at U.S. Soccer, will step down ... at the end of the month," according to Caitlin Murray of PRO SOCCER USA. Berhalter has overseen U.S. Soccer's financial strategy, including its "efforts to increase commercial revenue," and was the CEO of the '16 Copa America Centenario organizing committee. He was "widely considered to be the front-runner to fill the vacant role of the federation's top employee" since former CEO Dan Flynn stepped down last year. However, a "series of negative reports" about morale at U.S. Soccer "specifically pinpointed his leadership as a problem, derailing his candidacy for the promotion." After the "reports of a 'toxic' work environment, U.S. Soccer put the hiring of a new CEO on hold and began a series of employee surveys that have been used to implement workplace reforms." In those surveys, employees "raised concerns" about Berhalter. The CEO search has "since resumed, with candidates being interviewed in December" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 2/6). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Rachel Bachman notes the departure of Berhalter on the heels of Flynn's retirement means that the U.S. Soccer's "top two paid executives have left in recent months," as President Carlos Cordeiro's position is "elected and unpaid" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/7).
WEB OF INFLUENCE: SOCCER AMERICA's Paul Kennedy notes Berhalter was on the committee that selected now-U.S. Soccer Sporting Dir Earnie Stewart as the first USMNT GM, a move that "drew considerable scrutiny" when Stewart selected Berhalter's brother, Gregg, to fill the USMNT managerial position that was vacant for more than 13 months after the U.S. was eliminated from the '18 World Cup and former manager Bruce Arena stepped down. While Jay Berhalter "worked on the business side, he had decades of experience with the workings on the soccer side, which contributed to his out-sized influence at the federation." Berhalter "spearheaded the creation of the Boys’ Development Academy," which launched in '07, and has "overseen the federation's management of the NWSL," which launched in '13 (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 2/7).
