Ownership of the Carolina Panthers has officially changed hands, as David Tepper‘s purchase of the team closed on Monday.
It was revealed in May that Tepper, a billionaire hedge fund manager and the founder and president of Appaloosa Management, had reached an agreement to purchase the Panthers from Jerry Richardson. Richardson announced in December that the Panthers would be put on the market following the season, an announcement that came after a report by Sports Illustrated indicated that at least four former Panthers employees were given monetary settlements after coming forward with complaints about inappropriate workplace comments and conduct by him. The sale process began after the season, with Tepper eventually emerging from a fairly competitive field of bidders to purchase the team.
“I am thrilled to begin this new era of Carolina Panthers football and am humbled by the overwhelming excitement and support for the team,” Tepper said in a press statement issued by the Panthers on Monday. “On behalf of the fans and myself, I thank Jerry Richardson for bringing the team to the Carolinas and for entrusting me with its future. Winning is the most important thing both on the field and in the community, and I am committed to winning a Super Bowl championship together. I look forward to being part of the Panthers’ family and to supporting this flourishing region.”
This was not the only major personnel change announced by the Panthers on Monday. It was also revealed that COO Tina Becker, whose tenure with the organization spanned 19 seasons, has resigned.
Becker began working for the Panthers on a full-time basis in 1999, rising through the organization’s ranks along with the way before being named team COO in December 2017. Among the tasks Becker carried out over the years included overseeing special events, as well as involvement in the seven-year research effort to improve the fan experience at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers stated Monday that there is not an immediate replacement for Becker’s position.
Image of Bank of America Stadium courtesy Carolina Panthers.
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