With all the excitement esports offers it's easy to forget that these teams are still businesses, but now we have a piece of news regarding this side of things, as Immortals have announced that Ari Segal is their new president and COO (Chief Operating Officer), meaning he will oversee all business operations, including the new LA team in the Overwatch League. He will then report to CEO Noah Whinston and be a board advisor (non-voting) on the board of directors.
"Ari brings a wealth of knowledge and passion from the traditional sports industry and has a proven track record of building or repositioning brands to connect deeply with fans, particularly in their local markets. Innovation, access, transparency, and accountability are all hallmarks of his brand-building strategy and management style, making him the ideal fit for this critical role in our organisation," said Whinston.
Segal has previously worked at COO for NHL team Arizona Coyotes, and during this time he led the team to highest ever single-season ticket sales and total revenue. He's also worked with the Anaheim Ducks and at McKinsey & Company, so he has a varied history behind him. Is he a good fit for Immortals then?