New Los Angeles Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen has made a familiar hire, bringing another Los Angeles Dodgers suit with him.
The Lakers announced Wednesday afternoon the hiring of Michael Spetner as chief strategy and growth officer, a newly created position in which ‘he will be responsible for leading the organization’s long-term business strategy, driving value and identifying opportunities for international growth.’
‘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,’ Rosen said in the statement. ‘Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.’
Spetner has been the Dodgers vice president of business strategy and analytics since 2015, where he reportedly focused heavily on engaging with international audiences. The Dodgers’ footprint in Japan has skyrocketed in the last two years after the signings of superstars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, and Spetner reportedly helped the team capitalize on that by overseeing efforts to launch a fan club based in Japan and the creation of an immersive exhibit in Tokyo highlighting the team’s history.
According to his bio on the Dodgers’ staff directory, Spetner ‘developed analytical tools and frameworks to help business leaders across the organization leverage data and insights to make key decisions.’
When Rosen first spoke with reporters in the days after his hiring, he mentioned that he ‘only dreamed of having the reach that the Lakers have’ in his role with the Dodgers. Spetner was a major part of building towards that dream, and now he gets the chance to push the Lakers’ growth even further as one of the earliest hires in new owner Mark Walter’s ongoing front office overhaul.