The Washington soccer team, amid a name change and less than a week after a history of sexual harassment by former employees, hired Terry Bateman to oversee its business operations. Bateman will hold the title of Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.
Washington announced on July 6 that it was withdrawing its old name. A new one is expected to be named before the season, according to sources, though there is no exact schedule for an announcement.
Bateman has always had ties to owner Dan Snyder. He was president of the marketing services division of Snyder Communications from 1994 to ’97. He was also the chief marketing officer for Washington in 2006. He has worked in a role similar to the one just announced, albeit as a part-time advisor to Snyder and the team, in recent years.
In a statement, the team said Bateman would spearhead the name change and branding efforts alongside Snyder. He will also oversee all team marketing activities, sponsor relations, internet and media operations, and overall business strategy.
“I am very excited to join the organization at such a critical moment in history,” Bateman said in the statement.
Last week, the Washington Post detailed the sexual harassment charges against several former employees, two of whom were fired after an internal investigation before the story was published. A third retired a day before the story appeared, and two others were no longer working for the organization.
By adding Bateman, coach Ron Rivera is someone who can handle the business side while concentrating on training. In its first season, it had to deal with a pandemic, social justice issues, a name change, and internal harassment investigations.
“Terry Bateman is a man I trust and have worked with for many years,” Snyder said in a statement. “I cannot think of a better individual to help lead the marketing efforts of this organization in this new era.”
Bateman called the opportunity to bring his perspective and experience as they work to “develop a new era for this proud franchise.”
Bateman has been involved in sports, entertainment, and the media for over 40 years, having been CEO of Barton Cotton, Dick Clark Productions, and NTN Buzztime.
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