Columbus Crew: Longtime MSG Sports executive Kristin Bernert named head of business operations
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The Crew have hired Kristin Bernert as the club's new president of business operations, taking over for Steve Lyons who was reassigned to an advisor position with Haslam Sports Group in November 2021.
Bernert has a wealth of experience in the sports industry.
She most recently was the interim president of business operations with National Women's Soccer League club Gotham FC. Before that, Bernert spent 10 years with MSG Sports, which owns the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, and was eventually named executive vice president.
Bernert started at MSG Sports in 2011 as the vice president of business operations of the WNBA's New York Liberty. She served as the president of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks in 2008-10, vice president of marketing and business operations at the NBA in 2005-08, and the vice president of the WNBA's Detroit Shock in 2002-05.
Bernert left MSG Sports in April 2021 and founded her own agency, KB2 Sports, which is led by women in the professional sports and specializes in growing women's sports.
Bernert has been named a "Gamechanger" by Sports Business Journal in 2016, and was listed on a list of "Notable Women in Sports" by Crain's Business Journal.
“Kristin is an exceptional leader, and her vast professional sports expertise will be tremendous for the Crew as we further our vision to win championships and best engage with our fans and the City of Columbus,” Crew majority owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement.
Bernert is a an Ohio native, growing up in Stow, and obtaining a Master's Degree in sports management from Ohio State. She worked at the university in 1997 as assistant marketing director before taking the assistant athletic director job at Bowling Green State University.
"I am honored to help steward this storied franchise in a city that is so close to my heart, alongside an incredible teammate in Bez,” Bernert said in a statement. “I look forward to further engraining the global game and our players into this amazing, growing and diverse community. I am extremely grateful to the Haslams for bringing me home to the Ohio sports community.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew: Kristin Bernert named president of business operations
