PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Thorns have hired a new president of business operations, Alexis Lee.
Lee previously worked for the Portland Trail Blazers in marketing for nearly a decade before leaving to become the executive director of the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. Most recently, she was the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.
"I am ecstatic to become part of Portland Thorns FC. Returning to my home in Portland and joining a cherished organization as the Portland Thorns, is a dream realized,” Lee said in a press release. “I look forward to contributing to the organization's growth, aiming to elevate it to be the No. 1 women's sports club globally by championing an inclusive business model aligned with the values of the Portland community."
The Thorns’ previous president of business operations Mike Golub was fired in 2022, just days after a critical report on his involvement with abuse within the club became public. In her new role, Lee will be in charge of building out the Thorns’ front office staff, as well as the club’s marketing, ticket and sponsorship sales, community relations, finance, legal and human resources.
"We are thrilled to welcome Alexis to our team. Alexis embodies our shared vision for the culture of the club, which will guide our future hiring practices. We're excited about the positive impact her experience and local roots in the community will bring to our organization,” said club co-owner Lisa Bhathal Marage in a statement.
Bhathal Marage and her brother Alex purchased the Thorns for $63 million earlier this year through their family firm, RAJ Sports. They are the children of Raj and Marta Bhathal, who own the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. The Thorns’ regular season kicks off March 16 against the Kansas City Current.
This story is courtesy of KGW's news partner Portland Business Journal. Read more here.
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