Marlins hire Chip Bowers as president of business operations

This past weekend’s Marlins FanFest was an opportunity for fans to meet many new additions to the team. One acquisition who wasn’t available at the event: new president of business operations Chip Bowers.

The Marlins announced the Bowers’ hiring on Monday afternoon.

Here’s the full statement from the Fish:

The Miami Marlins today announced Chip Bowers as the organization’s President of Business Operations. Mr. Bowers will report directly to Marlins CEO Derek Jeter.

Mr. Bowers most recently served as the Chief Marketing Officer for the reigning NBA-champion Golden State Warriors, with responsibility for overseeing all marketing channels and brand development, corporate partnership sales and services efforts, and broadcasting. During his five-year tenure with the Warriors, the organization was named the SportsBusiness Journal’s Sports Team of the Year in 2014 and 2016, and received a league-high number of honors at NBA Sales and Marketing meetings in three of the last four years. He was most recently instrumental in the signing of significant new sponsorship agreements for the Warriors’ new arena – the Chase Center, including naming rights.

“Our goal is to operate a first-class organization with first-class individuals,” said Marlins CEO Derek Jeter. “Chip brings an immense breadth of experience, working in outstanding organizations which have achieved success both on and off the field or court of play. He is a proven leader who truly understands community and corporate partnership and client service.”

“I am honored and thrilled to be joining Bruce Sherman, Derek Jeter and the Miami Marlins organization,” Bowers said. “This organization’s leadership and commitment to building sustainable success, with a focus on re-engaging their corporate and community partners, made this a very easy decision. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working diligently to deliver a championship-caliber experience of which South Florida can be proud.”

Mr. Bowers returns to the state of Florida, where he spent four years (2008-12) with the NBA’s Orlando Magic. As the team’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships & Marketing, Mr. Bowers orchestrated the sale of naming rights and all founding partnerships associated with the Amway Center – the Magic’s arena that was named 2012 Facility of the Year by the SportsBusiness Journal.

Mr. Bowers began his professional career in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres. He then spent eight seasons in various roles with the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA.

The Marlins worked with Turnkey Search, a recognized pioneer and leader in talent recruitment in sports, sports media & entertainment since 1996, to conduct a comprehensive, nationwide search for this position.

For those who may be unfamiliar, the Warriors—his previous employer—have recently dominated the NBA. They current own the best record in the league for the fourth consecutive season, winning championships in both 2014-15 and 2016-17.

Marlins radio voice Glenn Gleffner shares an anecdote about Bowers from his time in San Diego:

Among many other initiatives, it seems one of his top priorities will be securing a naming rights deal for Marlins Park. The franchise didn’t tap into that potential revenue stream during the stadium’s first six seasons.

The Marlins are also hamstrung by one of MLB’s worst local television deals with FOX Sports Florida. It pays out $17 million, $18 million and $20 million in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, before expiring.