AEG Sports and LA Galaxy Chief Operating Officer Chris McGowan is departing from AEG to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Basketball Association's Portland Trailblazers, the NBA club announced on Monday.
A longtime executive with the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, McGowan joined the Galaxy earlier in the year during a reshuffling of the club's front office. After the announcement, McGowan issued the following statement addressing his departure from AEG.
“Upon my departure, I'd like to thank Phil Anschutz and Tim Leiweke for allowing me to be part of AEG for the past 17 years," said McGowan. "The experience that I have gained will be invaluable as I transition to the next phase of my career. AEG is a first class organization and I wish everyone associated with the company nothing but success in the future. I am excited to be joining Paul Allen and his management team, in particular Bert Kolde, Peter McLoughlin and Neil Olshey.”
AEG's President and CEO Tim Leiweke also addressed McGowan's depature in a statement:
“I have had the good fortune of working closely with Chris and being a part of his career and life for over 20 years. He came to us early on and was part of, not only the vision for STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE, but the Kings and eventually the Galaxy. He has been an important part of everything we do here," said Leiweke. "He has helped us shape our vision, create our passion and establish AEG as one of the top sports and entertainment organizations in the country. He will certainly be missed, but there are only a handful of these positions in sports, and this is truly a lifetime opportunity for him. With our facility management division operating the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, we look forward to continuing to work with him. We wish him and his family the very best and thank him immensely for everything he has done for the Kings, the Galaxy and AEG."
