Career sports executive and Harvard Law School instructor to assume new role for 2018-19
NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 14, 2017 – As the LPGA Tour prepares for the final tournament of its 2017 season, sports law expert and current Harvard Law School instructor Peter Carfagna has been elected as the incoming Chair of the Ladies Professional Golf Association's (LPGA's) Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2018.
Carfagna, chairman/CEO of Magis, LLC, and former chief legal officer of International Management Group (IMG), has been an independent director on the Board since 2011 and he will succeed Roberta Bowman, the Board Chair in 2016-2017.
A Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College who has worked as an expert witness, sports marketing and investment adviser and legal consultant, Carfagna will bring more than 30 years of sports law expertise to his new position.
"Peter is uniquely positioned to take over as our board chair, given his extraordinary background in both law and sport," said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. "Prior to taking over as CEO of Magis, he was chief legal officer and general counsel of IMG and there is very little - if anything - that he hasn't seen when it comes to the sports industry. He will be a tremendous asset in helping the LPGA reach even greater heights."
Magis, LLC, a privately-owned sports marketing, management and investment company, was founded in 2007 by Carfagna and he is responsible for identifying, evaluating, structuring, negotiating, closing and monitoring the company's various portfolio investments. From 1994-2005, he served as chief legal officer and general counsel of IMG, where he reported directly to IMG founder Mark McCormack and led the group's 20-plus attorney worldwide legal department.
Prior to that, Carfagna was a senior partner at Jones Day LLP where he worked as outside counsel for the Ownership Groups of the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2006, Carfagna was appointed the Covington & Burling Distinguished Visitor at Harvard Law School, where he continues to teach sports law and marketing.
"I'm absolutely delighted to take on the role as Chair of the LPGA’s Board of Directors," said Carfagna. "Mike Whan and his executive team are true 'major league' players in the sports world - it will be my pleasure to work closely with them, and with our player and other independent directors, to accomplish the very ambitious Strategic Plan which will continue to showcase the LPGA as the premier women’s professional sports organization in the world."
As Carfagna prepares to take over as the Board Chair in January, Commissioner Whan paid tribute to the influential role played by the outgoing Chair Bowman, a longtime sustainability and communications executive who spent most of her business career at Duke Energy in Charlotte, NC.
"Roberta has been an incredible advocate of the LPGA and the Board has benefited considerably over the past two years from her unique combination of leadership, listening skills, and unmatched passion for women’s golf," said Commissioner Whan.
"She has been a true visionary for us. The transition to Peter will be seamless, as Roberta and Peter are not only good friends, but have both been a part of the LPGA for the past six years."
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