Golden Knights Business Operations President Unveils New Biz Staff Lineup With New Foley Group Titles For Longtime VGK Staffers
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS. Nevada — The Vegas Golden Knights business team has some major new players like a new chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, while two longtime staffers who have been with the NHL team since Day 1 are getting new business titles in VGK owner Bill Foley’s always expanding sports and entertainment organization.
John Penhollow, the Golden Knights’ president of business operations, unveiled the new lineup Tuesday.
Rich Wang is the new chief operating officer, overseeing ticketing, finance, and business analytics. Wang has more than 18 years of experience in business across the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, and major live-entertainment venues. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of corporate strategy for San Diego FC and worked previously at the Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, and SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park in Inglewood/LA.
Scott Kegley is the VGK chief digital officer. Kegley will oversee digital marketing, innovation, creative, social, and influencer marketing. Kegley brings 20 years of NFL and major-venue experience, including jobs with the Atlanta Falcons, AMB Sports and Entertainment, the Minnesota Vikings, and the San Francisco 49ers.
Bryan Harper is the chief marketing officer, managing marketing, brand, entertainment, production and retail. Harper spent 22 seasons with the NFL Vikings, leading the Vikings Entertainment Network (VEN) and introducing several of the franchise’s traditions such as the Skol Chant.
In an October interview with LVSportsBiz.com, Penhollow outlined a game plan of projects. It’s clear this new manpower will help Penhollow tackle those aims.
Penhollow said Las Vegas needs four to eight more sheets of ice to continue growing hockey in the desert. Penhollow also touched on an intriguing concept of creating a sports academy where athletes can train for everything from lacrosse to hockey, especially now that Nevada has sanctioned lacrosse as a high school varsity sport. Las Vegas’ professional lacrosse team, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, plays at the Foley-owned Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson.
“As we continue to try and grow the game, boys and girls hockey is a priority,” Penhollow told LVSportsBiz.com.
“Being here to support the Professional Women’s Hockey League if and when they come to town for a one- or two-game series is important. The league is not looking to add another franchise right now. If and when that were to occur, and if we’ve improved our facilities by then, it could certainly be a conversation,” Penhollow said of a women’s pro hockey team in Las Vegas.
“There is much work to do to get us to that point,” Penhollow said. “The PWHL owns and operates the teams. So for us, it’s not a conversation around owning a team, instead, could we help support a team if it came to the market.”
The Golden Knights are the centerpiece of VGK owner Bill Foley’s entertainment group, which also has some staff updates.
Foley Entertainment Group Chief Business Officer Rob Foley takes a more active day-to-day role in the company and begins directly overseeing the team’s Legal, Human Resource and Information Technology groups, as well as the business and operations teams at Lee’s Family Forum. As CBO since 2018, Rob has been involved in every aspect of the organization.
Eric Tosi, who began in VGK Year 1 as the PR head before moving to chief marketing officer, has a new title: Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer. Tosi will tackle a broader set of cross-functional decisions related to the entire Golden Knights business, overall strategy and play an advisory role to the VGK and Foley Entertainment Group executive leadership groups.
Sachin Amin is promoted to the newly established role of chief information officer (CIO) for the Foley Family portfolio. Amin will lead the development and execution of the enterprise technology strategy across all Foley entertainment businesses, including operations in Las Vegas, luxury hotels, Rock Creek Cattle Company, and the wine & spirits businesses.
And then there’s the first worker in the Foley sports empire — number one employee and VGK ticket sales chief Todd Pollock who worked with Foley on ticket issues even before the Vegas Golden Knights were born.
Pollock has a snazzy new title: Vice President of Foley Hospitality Group Business Ventures. Pollock will work closely with Foley Entertainment Group CEO Joe Leinacker on portfolio-wide guest experience initiatives and identifying new hospitality ventures.
“We are building the next great sports and entertainment company and that means advancing how we operate, cutting through complexity, and bringing in leaders who can see what’s coming before it arrives,” Penhollow said.
Penhollow took over the business reins from former team president Kerry Bubolz earlier this year.
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