New York Mets Hire Lew Sherr as President of Business Operations
The New York Mets have announced the hiring of Lew Sherr, currently in charge of the US Open tennis tournament, as their new president of business operations. Sherr will leave his position at the USTA to join the baseball team.
Sherr, who has been CEO and Executive Director of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) since 2022 and has worked there since 2010, including a period as Chief Revenue Officer, will leave his current position at the end of June to start with the Mets in July.At this moment, my focus is on achieving as smooth a transition as possible. But I am very excited about what is happening there. Steve and Alex Cohen (Mets owners) have shown a commitment to that team that is unmatched in the sport. You see it on the field, off the field. The energy surrounding the team. The energy they have for what they are trying to do for the community with their foundation. The plans for the casino, the hotel, and the entertainment district.
Lew Sherr
Mets owner Steve Cohen is among the bidders to obtain one of the three casino licenses that the New York State Gaming Commission will award. Cohen has been pushing for the state legislature to reclassify the parking lots adjacent to Citi Field, near the facilities that host the US Open, from parkland to commercial land for a gaming facility.
The departure of Scott Havens, who held the position of president of business operations since December 2023, was announced on Tuesday. In addition, Chief Legal Officer Katie Pothier, Chief Marketing Officer Andy Goldberg, Chief Communications Officer Nancy Elder, and Senior Vice President of Finance Peter Woll have left their positions since November.The USTA announced that Brian Vahaly and Andrea Hirsch will be the interim co-CEOs while a replacement for Sherr is sought. Vahaly is the chairman of the USTA board of directors, while Hirsch is the chief operating officer and general counsel of the USTA.
During Sherr’s tenure as CEO, the USTA has experienced growth in tennis participation nationwide, along with increases in US Open attendance, sponsorships, and revenue from ticket sales and broadcasting rights.
Last week, Sherr participated in a press conference in New York to present an $800 million project aimed at renovating Arthur Ashe Stadium and creating a performance center for players on the tournament grounds. He also made significant changes to this year’s US Open mixed doubles event, with the goal of attracting top singles players, turning it into a two-day, 16-team competition the week before the start of the singles draws.We’ve made some great attempts, and fortunately, they’re yielding results.
Lew Sherr
It’s bittersweet, as I’ve really loved being a part of this organization for 15 years and the opportunities I’ve had to do really interesting things, and not just in the commercial realm, but also in terms of helping us think about how to grow the sport. I’m leaving with peace of mind, knowing that (the USTA) will be well taken care of.
Lew Sherr
