ATLANTA, Ga. – Atlanta Braves Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk has announced several organizational changes, as the team prepares to close out Turner Field in 2016 and move into SunTrust Park in 2017. Team president John Schuerholz has been named Vice Chairman, while Executive Vice President Mike Plant has been named President, Development and Executive Vice President Derek Schiller has been named as President, Business. The new titles are effective immediately.
President of Baseball Operations John Hart will continue in his role with the Club and will report to both McGuirk and Schuerholz. Plant and Schiller will report directly to McGuirk.
“John Schuerholz has provided tremendous leadership for this organization for more than 25 years,” McGuirk said. “While he is stepping back from his overall day-to-day business and development duties, we are excited that he will continue to be a source for consultation and guidance on baseball matters. As we close out our time at Turner Field this season, we will put John in his rightful place in the Braves Hall of Fame.”
Now in his 51st season in professional baseball, Schuerholz has long been regarded as one of the top executives in the game. He joined the Braves in October 1990 as general manager and led the baseball operations department for 17 seasons (from 1991 through 2007). Schuerholz, 75, has served as team president since October 2007 and will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame this coming August.
Under Schuerholz’s leadership, the Braves achieved unprecedented success on the field, compiling the best record in baseball (1,594-1,092; .593) over those 17 seasons. The Braves established an American professional sports record by winning 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005 (the 1994 season was not played to completion).
Schuerholz will continue to head up the Braves search for a new Spring Training home for 2018.
Both Plant and Schiller have been instrumental in the Braves’ efforts to envision and develop SunTrust Park and the adjacent 1.5 million square foot mixed-use development, The Battery Atlanta, which are scheduled to open in 2017.
The project has been seen as revolutionary in sports and entertainment by combining a Major League Baseball ballpark and mixed-use development master planned and built simultaneously under a complex and tightened schedule. The project will enhance the sports experience on game days and create a one-of-a-kind lifestyle destination for the Southeast.
Plant and Schiller have participated in virtually every aspect of the Braves move to SunTrust Park in their respective business areas which include securing the property, managing the construction and development teams, working with the design team for both the ballpark and The Battery Atlanta, securing naming rights and other corporate partners, developing technology initiatives, securing tenants within The Battery Atlanta, creating new fan and guest engagement opportunities and developing all operational plans for the site.
“We feel that these new titles more accurately reflect the responsibilities of Mike and Derek,” McGuirk continued. “They are among the best executives in all of baseball, and their efforts have put our organization on a tremendous path to stay at the forefront of our industry.”
Plant, 56, joined the Braves in November of 2003 after spending nine years as an executive with Turner Sports. In addition to his work with the SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta construction and development teams, his responsibilities include overseeing stadium and administrative business operations, special events, as well as the operations of the team’s minor league clubs.
Additionally, Plant has overseen the move of two minor league teams and the construction of their new ballparks in Pearl, Miss., and Gwinnett County, Ga.
Schiller, 45, also joined the team in November of 2003, coming from an executive position with the Atlanta Thrashers. He has played a leadership role in further increasing the organization’s sales and marketing visibility. He has worked to enhance the team’s customer service as he directs the overall revenue generating operations of the team, along with the marketing and branding strategies, and oversees all broadcasting relationships with the Braves’ television and radio partners.
Schiller has also guided the Braves toward significant investments in technological upgrades aimed at boosting the fan experience, including digital ticketing, variable and dynamic pricing, and broadened fan outreach with dynamic content on Braves.com and all social media platforms.
