The Timberwolves and Lynx have named an NHL executive as the next CEO of Minnesota’s pro basketball teams.
Matthew Caldwell will run the business operations for the Wolves and Lynx following nearly a decade as CEO of the Florida Panthers. That team won a second-consecutive Stanley Cup this spring.
It’s the biggest hire yet for new owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who took full ownership of the teams in June after a prolonged sale. Since then, they’ve been laying off business-side staff as they reshape the organization.
Hiring the top executive of a championship team signals they expect the same trajectory in Minneapolis.
“Matthew’s proven track record leading the business of the Florida Panthers is undeniable,” Lore and Rodriguez said in a statement. “We can’t wait to see the remarkable impact his bold leadership will have on this organization.”
Caldwell, 45, begins his new role leading the business of Minnesota’s NBA and WNBA teams — as well as the G-League affiliate Iowa Wolves — Sept. 2.
“I am inspired by Marc and Alex’s vision and passion for Minnesota basketball and their commitment to excellence,” Caldwell said in a news release. “I look forward to making my mark across the organization, and to building a lasting foundation that gives Minnesota basketball fans what they deserve — the best experience in sports, bar none.”
He joins the organization on a 10-year deal and replaces Ethan Casson, who left the team this summer to become president at the Dallas Mavericks.