Grunfeld’s duties to expand

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED A NEW TITLE AND EXPANDED AUTHORITY IN THE ORGANIZATION FOR ERNIE GRUNFELD.

HIRED IN 2003 AS PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS, GRUNFELD WAS NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE WIZARDS. THE PROMOTION BECOMES OFFICIAL JULY 1.

“OUR COMPANY HAS TREMENDOUS ASSETS IN THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE,” WASHINGTON SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CHAIRMAN ABE POLLIN SAID. “IN THIS REORGANIZATION, I AM CAPITALIZING ON THOSE ASSETS. WE HAVE EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED MANAGERS AND MARKETERS HERE, AND I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT GIVING MANY OF THESE EMPLOYEES ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS WE MOVE WASHINGTON SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INTO A VERY EXCITING FUTURE.”

GRUNFELD WILL CONTINUE TO HEAD UP BASKETBALL OPERATIONS. HIS OTHER NEW DUTIES HAVE YET TO BE OUTLINED.

POLLIN ALSO TABBED 18-YEAR WASHINGTON SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPLOYEE MATT WILLIAMS TO SERVE AS THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT. WILLIAMS WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO POLLIN, ACTING AS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, AND WILL REPRESENT POLLIN’S INTERESTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE BUSINESS AS WELL AS HIS OUTSIDE INTERESTS. HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE POLLIN’S SPOKESMAN TO THE MEDIA, STAFF AND PUBLIC.

THESE MOVES COINCIDE WITH LAST WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SUSAN O’MALLEY, THE FIRST WOMAN HIRED AS PRESIDENT OF A PRO SPORTS FRANCHISE, WOULD NOT RENEW HER CONTRACT WITH THE TEAM.

— JOHN N. MITCHELL