The Orioles hired Katie Griggs as president of business operations on Monday, making the former Seattle Mariners executive the first female president in franchise history.
Griggs will oversee the business side of the team, a responsibility previously held by former Chairman and CEO John Angelos until he sold the team to an ownership group led by David Rubenstein in January.
Griggs resigned from his position with the Mariners on Friday, saying he wanted to move closer to his family on the East Coast. The North Carolina native and Dartmouth College graduate spent three years in Seattle running the team’s business operations, notably overseeing the production of the MLB All-Star Game and NHL Winter Classic less than a year apart at T-Mobile Park.
“Katie’s track record of success, diverse business experience and commitment to excellence made her the perfect fit to lead the next chapter of our Baltimore operations,” Rubenstein said in a statement. “The entire Orioles organization welcomes Katie as we continue to elevate every aspect of our business.”
Rubenstein said in May that he wanted to hire a new executive to run the business side of the team, saying, “I’m not going to fill that role that Mr. Angelos held.” After hiring a recruiting firm, Rubenstein and the Orioles landed on Griggs, who was named to the Sports Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40 honors. She is Rubenstein’s first big hire since taking over the Orioles.
Prior to his time in Seattle, Griggs served as chief business officer for MLS club Atlanta United FC for four years and has also held leadership positions at Turner Broadcasting and Futures Sports & Entertainment.
“I am thrilled to join the Orioles organization,” Griggs said in a statement. “It is an incredible honor to support this historic franchise, the city of Baltimore and its passionate fans.”
“I look forward to contributing to the team’s success on and off the field.”
This story may be updated.
