WASHINGTON, January 29, 2013 — Following D.C. United’s president Kevin Payne’s moved to Toronto FC to take on similar duties, United has turned inward to replace Payne who was with the club from the team’s inception in 1996.
This week, United named Michael Williamson as United’s chief operating officer, who will oversee business operations, and Doug Hicks as chief marketing officer in charge of all communications, promotional and branding initiatives. Long-time corporate partnership executive Mike Schoenbrun has become the vice president for business development and partnerships.
“We are entering a dynamic period in the organization’s history,” said United’s co-owner Jason Levien. “Michael, Doug and Mike have unique and broad bases of experience and I’m confident they will effectively lead the club’s business efforts and enhance its trajectory.”
Williamson joined D.C. United in 2007 in the role of chief financial officer.
Having joined D.C. United’s front office as the Vice President of Communications in 2001, Hicks has managed all community and public relations, broadcasting and digital media initiatives since that time. His 20-year professional career also includes four seasons with the Washington Bullets (NBA) and three with the Washington Capitals (NHL). He is notable for handling the media frenzy around Freddy Adu, when the 14-year-old prodigy joined United in 2004.
Schoenbrun comes to D.C. United having most recently served as Vice President and Associate publisher of Foreign Policy, a division of Washington Post Company.
The club also announced today that Josh Cohen (ticket operations), Amanda Farina (marketing), Rebecca Payne (digital media), Andrew Skorupski (finance), Roy Tewell (ticket sales) and Ryan Tronovitch (media relations) have assumed roles as departmental leads.
D.C. United will face Western Conference side Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 9 in its home opener of the 2013 MLS regular season. The club will begin its 2013 campaign on the road against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, March 2 in a rematch of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
John Haydon wrote a weekly soccer column for The Washington Times. He has covered two World Cups and written about Major League Soccer from the league’s inception in 1996.
Follow John on Twitter at @Johnahaydon
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