San Francisco Giants Top Investors Force Out CEO Bill Neukom
Never Trust A Bow-Tie Man
A disappointing 2011 season undoubtedly was going to lead to changes within the world champion San Francisco Giants. It wasn’t expected that the changes would start at the top of the organization.
Managing general partner and chief executive officer Bill Neukom will not return in that role next season. Neukom was forced to step down by the Giants ownership group’s executive committee, a request believed to be the result of several disagreements between the committee and Neukom, who once was Microsoft’s top attorney. Giants president and chief operating office Larry Baer will take over as CEO when Neukom steps down Dec. 31.
Considering the World Series title and this season’s high attendance at AT&T Park, Neukom’s three year tenure has been successful. But certain financial decisions upset members of the ownership group in part because they learned of them through news reports rather than directly from Neukom.
The Giants ownership group is composed of 32 “Principle Partners,” an executive committee of the 10 largest investors holds most of the power and appoints the managing general partner, who is the face of the group and handles day-to-day operations.
