Related News
USATF gives the boot to outspoken CEO Logan
Source: Agencies |
September 15, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
USA Track and Field has sacked its outspoken chief executive Doug Logan, ending his embattled two years in charge of the governing body.
The former Major League Soccer commissioner became CEO just before the 2008 Olympics and set in motion a major review of USATF after the US athletics team's poor showing in Beijing.
The study resulted in sweeping proposals for change, not all of which were greeted favorably by athletes and long-time members of the organization.
The decision to oust him came at a meeting in Las Vegas at the weekend, USATF said in a statement on Monday.
"The board decided based upon the (performance) evaluation (of Logan) the organization needed a different kind of leadership in order to get the results that we need," USATF president and board chair Stephanie Hightower said. Neither she nor vice chair Jack Wickens would say specifically why Logan was ousted.
Logan's hands-on leadership and push for change had drawn fire from some within the organization but others said those were not the reasons for his dismissal. They would not elaborate.
There were also concerns about his ability to find new sponsors.
"I am deeply disappointed to be leaving USATF," Logan, 67, said. "I am proud of the record I and my staff have achieved in the course of the two-plus years."
Asked if that had played a role in his ouster, Logan deferred comment to the board.
"Change never comes in an environment of comfort," he said.
"It usually comes in an environment of discomfort."
Logan's contract ran through 2013, and his ouster could result in a settlement approaching US$1 million.
"(After) a thorough review of our financial positioning, financial opportunities and the potential cost of a settlement, at the end of the day we thought the leadership change was best for the sport," Wickens said.
Chief Operating Officer Mike McNees will assume day-to-day leadership of USATF until a new CEO is hired.
Asked if Logan, an outsider to the sport, was the right choice when hired in July 2008, Hightower said she had abstained from voting on his selection.
"I did not have enough information and did not think the process was transparent enough," she said.
Logan was the third leader of a US national sports governing body to be replaced in recent months, joining fencing and triathlon.
"This is not a headless horse that is running around without any direction," Hightower said.
The former Major League Soccer commissioner became CEO just before the 2008 Olympics and set in motion a major review of USATF after the US athletics team's poor showing in Beijing.
The study resulted in sweeping proposals for change, not all of which were greeted favorably by athletes and long-time members of the organization.
The decision to oust him came at a meeting in Las Vegas at the weekend, USATF said in a statement on Monday.
"The board decided based upon the (performance) evaluation (of Logan) the organization needed a different kind of leadership in order to get the results that we need," USATF president and board chair Stephanie Hightower said. Neither she nor vice chair Jack Wickens would say specifically why Logan was ousted.
Logan's hands-on leadership and push for change had drawn fire from some within the organization but others said those were not the reasons for his dismissal. They would not elaborate.
There were also concerns about his ability to find new sponsors.
"I am deeply disappointed to be leaving USATF," Logan, 67, said. "I am proud of the record I and my staff have achieved in the course of the two-plus years."
Asked if that had played a role in his ouster, Logan deferred comment to the board.
"Change never comes in an environment of comfort," he said.
"It usually comes in an environment of discomfort."
Logan's contract ran through 2013, and his ouster could result in a settlement approaching US$1 million.
"(After) a thorough review of our financial positioning, financial opportunities and the potential cost of a settlement, at the end of the day we thought the leadership change was best for the sport," Wickens said.
Chief Operating Officer Mike McNees will assume day-to-day leadership of USATF until a new CEO is hired.
Asked if Logan, an outsider to the sport, was the right choice when hired in July 2008, Hightower said she had abstained from voting on his selection.
"I did not have enough information and did not think the process was transparent enough," she said.
Logan was the third leader of a US national sports governing body to be replaced in recent months, joining fencing and triathlon.
"This is not a headless horse that is running around without any direction," Hightower said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
