Signaling a new phase in its operation, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games have named Kathy Carter as chief executive officer to lead the successful planning and execution of the LA28 Games. As CEO, Carter will report to LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman and oversee Games delivery, impact and business operations.

Carter joined LA28 in October 2018 to oversee the commercial business as chief revenue officer and chief executive officer and Team USA’s joint venture U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties LLC. Under her leadership, the joint venture shifted the standard marketing rights model to strategic partnership integration and signed several large founding sponsors including Delta, Comcast and Salesforce and official partnerships with Deloitte, Nike and Ralph Lauren. Under Carter’s leadership, LA28 also announced a global hospitality program in collaboration with On Location, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026.

“Kathy is one of the most naturally gifted leaders in the game and has already made a tremendous impact successfully driving LA28’s commercial business,” said Wasserman. “There is no better partner for the Olympic and Paralympic movement than Kathy and I am thrilled she is stepping into the CEO role. We are very fortunate to have her on our team.”

As LA28’s CEO, Carter will lead the full organizing committee and maintain oversight of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, which collectively include about 95 full-time staff.

“I’m honored and humbled and more energized than ever to co-create a Games that will unite us as a local and global community while celebrating the beauty of our differences,” said Carter. “The LA28 Games present an incomparable opportunity to showcase what’s good in the world and what’s great about the Los Angeles community. I’m inspired to be part of the tremendous progress the LA28 Games are sure to create.”

Before joining LA28, Carter was a founding member of Major League Soccer, spending a 20 years at MLS and Soccer United Marketing, including the last eight years as president. She previously she held positions with AEG in Los Angeles and served as manager of partnership marketing for the organizing committee behind the 1994 FIFA World Cup.