Xavier Gutierrez, the former CEO of the Arizona Coyotes and ImpactX Sports Group, along with Pedro Guerrero, CEO of Guerrero Media, made a significant impact in the sports industry.
With the recent sale of the Arizona Coyotes franchise to Utah, the NHL not only lost a team but also its sole active Latino chief executive.
Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, Gutierrez took on the role of CEO in 2019 under the ownership of Cuban-American billionaire Alex Meruelo. Prior to this, Gutierrez had a successful career at Clearlake Capital Group, showcasing his leadership skills.
Gutierrez’s appointment as the first Latino CEO in NHL history highlighted the lack of diversity in leadership roles within professional sports.
His insight into the industry and the importance of representation for Hispanics in sports leadership positions shed light on the need for more diversity and inclusion.
With only a handful of Latino executives in major professional sports franchises, Gutierrez’s tenure as CEO was a significant step towards a more diverse and inclusive sports industry.
2024-05-11 16:35:17
Original article available at www.cnbc.com