FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rob Simmelkjaer Named New York Road Runners CEO
20-Year Sports Business Executive and Government Official
to Assume Leadership Position
New York, October 6, 2022 - New York Road Runners (NYRR) today announced
that Rob Simmelkjaer [SIM-uhl-care] has been appointed Chief Executive
Officer. Simmelkjaer will oversee all personnel and operations at the
world's premier community running organization. He will assume this role on
November 15, 2022.
Kerin Hempel will step down as chief executive officer after leading the
organization through her second TCS New York City Marathon. Over her
two-year contract, she successfully guided NYRR through the pandemic while
laying the groundwork for future success for the incoming permanent CEO.
"We are excited for Rob to lead our organization through its next phase of
performance, growth, and impact. He brings sports leadership experience, a
record of driving strategic transformation, and a commitment to our mission
of helping and inspiring people through running," said George Hirsch, Chair
of the Board of Directors of NYRR. "I want to thank Kerin Hempel for her
tireless dedication and managerial expertise throughout this critical
transition period for NYRR. We simply couldn't have done it without her."
"I am thrilled and humbled to join NYRR at such a pivotal time," said Rob
Simmelkjaer. "Running has the unique ability to improve our physical and
mental health, bring us closer together, and inspire positive community
change. I look forward to working closely with NYRR's talented staff,
passionate volunteers, diverse communities, and its many partners and
stakeholders."
"It has been a true privilege to lead NYRR during this critical
transitional time as we worked to strengthen our organization, better serve
our diverse running community, and return our events and programming to
pre-pandemic levels," said Kerin Hempel, NYRR's current Chief Executive
Officer. "Rob Simmelkjaer has the capabilities and experience to take this
great organization to the next level."
About Rob Simmelkjaer
Simmelkjaer is a runner and two-time New York City Marathon finisher, a
native New Yorker, an experienced sports business executive, and a
government official, with a record of leadership and performance across a
range of sports and media organizations.
During his nine-year tenure at ESPN, the world's most successful sports
media organization, Simmelkjaer served in positions of increasing
responsibility and impact as Vice President of International Development,
Vice President and Assistant to the President, and Director of NBA
Programming. In 2011, he was named Senior Vice President of NBC Sports
Ventures, where he led new business development and created and oversaw a
number of NBC Sports properties.
In addition to his executive roles, Simmelkjaer has served as an on-air
contributor for ABC News, ESPN, NBC Sports, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, and the
Tennis Channel. He anchored MSNBC's coverage of the 2012 and 2016 Summer
Olympics. Most recently, Simmelkjaer founded Persona Media Inc., a social
media platform and video production service.
In 2020, Simmelkjaer was appointed by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to
serve in a volunteer role as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the
Connecticut Lottery. The NAACP named him one of Connecticut's "100 Most
Influential" African-Americans in 2021.
Simmelkjaer is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. He
practiced law in New York City at Weil, Gotshal and Manges and Cravath,
Swaine & Moore.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The 2022 TCS New York City Marathon will be held on November 6. Following a
pandemic-related cancellation in 2020 and a reduced field size in 2021,
this year the race makes its return to full capacity, with 50,000 runners.
The world's largest marathon is one of the city's most anticipated and
iconic annual sporting events, attracting runners and spectators of all
backgrounds, ages, and abilities from around the world.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR's mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958,
New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world's
premier community running organization. NYRR's commitment to New York
City's five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free
youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring
the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of
thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and
opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR's premier event is the TCS New York City
Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features
a wide population of runners, from the world's top professional athletes to
a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn
more, visit www.nyrr.org.
About the NYRR Board of Directors
As previously announced, Nnenna Lynch was nominated to serve as the next
Chair of the NYRR Board of Directors, beginning her tenure on June 30,
2023. Lynch will be the first woman and the first African-American to serve
in the position. George Hirsch will step down as Chair of the Board and he
will become Chairman Emeritus.
###
|
