The global sports business landscape continues to witness significant leadership reshuffles, with former Oak View Group (OVG) chief executive Tim Leiweke making a notable return through a new investment in English football club Bolton Wanderers. Alongside Leiweke’s latest move, several high-profile executive appointments across football, rugby, live entertainment, and emerging sports leagues highlight an evolving focus on fan engagement, venue innovation, and commercial growth.
Tim Leiweke Joins Bolton Wanderers Board Through Entrepreneur Equity Partners
Former Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke has officially joined the board of Bolton Wanderers following a minority investment in the English Championship club by Entrepreneur Equity Partners (EEP).
EEP, founded by Leiweke alongside Francesca Bodie and Keegan McDonald, has positioned its investment around strengthening the club’s long-term commercial potential. Rather than focusing solely on financial backing, the partnership aims to improve supporter engagement while elevating the overall matchday experience for fans.
The move represents Leiweke’s latest step back into the sports investment landscape after leaving Oak View Group last year.
Return Follows a High-Profile Legal Chapter
Leiweke’s return to sports leadership comes after a turbulent period that attracted widespread attention across the industry.
In July 2025, he stepped down as CEO of Oak View Group after the U.S. Department of Justice announced federal criminal conspiracy charges related to the bidding process for the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Prosecutors alleged that Leiweke participated in efforts to influence the competitive bidding process for the arena project. Leiweke consistently denied all allegations and entered a plea of not guilty.
Later that year, he received a full presidential pardon from Donald Trump, effectively closing one of the most closely watched legal cases involving a senior executive in the sports venue industry.
Earlier this year, Leiweke also expanded his sports investment portfolio through an investment in Italian football club Venezia, signaling a renewed focus on international football.
Live Nation Strengthens Venue Leadership
Global live entertainment giant Live Nation has appointed Peter Griffin as Senior Vice President for Venues across the Middle East and Africa.
Griffin joins the company after serving in senior advisory roles at Trivandi, where he led strategy and commercial advisory initiatives before becoming an executive director. His earlier career included consulting experience at KPMG.
His appointment reflects Live Nation’s continued investment in expanding venue operations across rapidly growing entertainment markets.
World Rugby Names New Head of Venue and Event Delivery
World Rugby has appointed Anna Jankowski as its new Head of Venue and Event Delivery.
Jankowski brings more than a decade of operational experience from London Stadium, where she progressed from Event Manager to Head of Operations. During her tenure, she played a key role in managing major sporting and entertainment events at one of the UK’s busiest multi-purpose venues.
Her experience is expected to strengthen World Rugby’s delivery of future international tournaments and global events.
AMB Sports and Entertainment Announces Executive Promotions
AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) has unveiled several leadership changes that will become effective on August 17, following the planned retirement of Chief Operating Officer Dietmar Exler.
Among the key promotions:
- Kevin Strada has been elevated from Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Atlanta Falcons to Senior Vice President and CFO of AMBSE.
- Alison Boyd has been promoted to Vice President of Finance for the Falcons.
- Warren Parr becomes Senior Vice President of Ticketing after previously overseeing ticket sales and services for both the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United.
- Responsibility for The Home Depot Backyard and stadium tours will transition to Natalee Anderson.
- Chief Information Officer Kevin Pope will now report directly to AMBSE President Tim Zulawski, reflecting a streamlined executive reporting structure.
The organizational changes are designed to support continued operational growth across AMBSE’s sports and entertainment businesses.
TMRW Sports Appoints NBA Veteran to Lead Flag Football Expansion
Emerging sports company TMRW Sports has named Brendan Donohue as President of Flag Football.
Donohue brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in professional sports, including senior positions with the NBA, where he helped lead Team Marketing and Business Operations and later served as President of the NBA 2K League. Most recently, he was Managing Partner within Elevate’s talent practice.
Reporting directly to TMRW Sports founder and CEO Mike McCarley, Donohue will oversee the company’s ambitious plans to launch a professional flag football league in partnership with the NFL.
The initiative is expected to gain momentum ahead of flag football’s Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, positioning the sport for significant commercial and global audience growth.
Sports Industry Leadership Continues to Evolve
From football club ownership and venue operations to global event management and emerging sports leagues, the latest executive appointments underscore how organizations are increasingly investing in experienced leadership to drive innovation and fan-focused growth.
Tim Leiweke’s return through Bolton Wanderers is perhaps the most closely watched development, marking another chapter in his long career in sports business while highlighting the continued flow of investment into football. At the same time, appointments at Live Nation, World Rugby, AMB Sports and Entertainment, and TMRW Sports demonstrate the industry’s broader commitment to enhancing fan experiences, modernizing venues, and preparing for the next generation of global sporting events.
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