The Dallas Mavericks have hired Rick Welts to be the new CEO, replacing Cynt Marshall, who is retiring on Jan. 1. Welts previously has served as president and COO of the Golden State Warriors and president of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, according to a press release.
He has 46 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry. Welts came out publicly in a May 15, 2011 interview in the New York Times.
He was one of the first American sports executives to come out. That short list includes Billy Bean, who came out in 1999. Welts is a member of the advisory board for You Can Play, a campaign that fights homophobia in sports. — David Taffet