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Major League Rugby has announced the hiring of George Killebrew as the new League Commissioner. The 56-year-old from Honolulu, Hawai’i, arrives after spending 27 years with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks organization where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer.
Killebrew assumes the post with immediate effect, taking over from Dean Howes in the league’s top management position. Howes had been under pressure from team owners to deliver greater returns in marketing and broadcast revenue. The position was first advertised in August by recruiting agency Turnkey Search, who facilitated the hiring.
After joining the Mavericks in 1991 initially as head of sales and marketing for the Dallas Sidekicks, a professional soccer team operated by the Mavericks owners group. He moved over to the NBA side as an account executive and eventually headed up major sponsorship negotiations for the franchise including the naming rights agreement for the American Airlines Center.
In an official release, MLR says that Killebrew was the outstanding candidate following an international search for applicants. New England Free Jacks owner Errik Anderson is currently the Chairman of the MLR Board of Governers and says that Killebrew’s appointment signifies a turning point for the league.
“MLR has outperformed expectations in its first two seasons in part because of a tailwind of rugby’s large global following, and our incredibly passionate domestic rugby community. George brings nearly three decades of commercial sports, media and entertainment experience, which is crucial as we transition MLR into our next phase of growth. George is a visionary sports leader grounded in commercial fundamentals while staying true to the inclusive values and traditions of our global sport.”
