Washington Spirit
Project:
New Ownership - Advisory & Executive Search
Advised new ownership post-acquisition. Assessed sporting operations talent, organizational structure, and core operating processes. Partnered with ownership to operationalize key priorities, including a league pioneering buildout of talent and headcount across Washington Spirit Soccer Operations and placement of a VP of Soccer Operations & General Manager, ultimately lifting standards across the NWSL and elite women’s soccer.
Engagement
- Provided sporting industry intelligence to new ownership
- Provided an unbiased view on the sporting operations arm of the organization for new owner
- Conducted a sporting operations audit of structure, talent and processes and delivered a gap analysis
- Provided benchmarking across league around sporting operations headcount and compensation
- Delivered recommendations on organizational design, talent and future investment that aligned with aspirations of new ownership and raised the standard of the league
- Conducted search and placement of new President of Soccer Operations & General Manager
Impact
- Clearly defined sporting operations vision
- Clearly defined and industry leading organizational structure and operating model
- Transformative hire in key leadership role within club, league and sport
- Estimated increase of sporting operations headcount by 60%+
- Clarity on competitive drivers within organization matched with strategic investment from ownership