The Los Angeles Lakers have made another hire for their front office, and this time, it is for a role that didn’t previously exist.
They have brought on board Michael Spetner to be their chief strategy and growth officer. Spetner, like Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi and Lon Rosen, is another man whom new majority owner Mark Walter has brought over from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he has been with the Dodgers for the last 10 years.
“As we look to redefine what’s possible across the sports landscape for fans and partners, we will build on the Lakers legacy and orient toward the future to consider what’s next,” said Rosen, who was hired to be the Lakers’ president of business operations. “Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.”
With the Dodgers, Spetner, among other things, implemented business models for rights holders and combined in-arena experiences with digital communities. He also played a role in spreading the franchise’s reach into Japan by helping it to launch a Japan-based fan club and an immersive museum-style exhibition in Tokyo.
Advertisement
The Lakers have reportedly been aiming to model their front office after that of the Dodgers, who have won the last two World Series championships and are considered Major League Baseball’s model franchise these days.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: The Lakers have made a new hire for a brand-new front office role