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Arthur Blank to Hire CEO to Manage Businesses, Including Falcons and United FC

By Jonathan Savitske

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Atlanta Falcons’ owner announced today that he plans to take a step back from all of his business ventures, including the Atlanta Falcons and his newest business endeavor, Atlanta United FC, ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure reports.

In addition to Arthur Blank’s two professional sporting ventures, he is also the owner of PGA Tour Superstore and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, and managing partner at the Arthur Blank Foundation. Because the 73-year-old Blank intends to partially back away from his business ventures, he announced his intent to hire a CEO to oversee the operation of Blank’s ongoing enterprises.

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"“I have a strong desire to spend more quality time with my family, which now includes four-going-on-five grandchildren, as well as to concentrate more of my time on our philanthropic endeavors…And while I will always be heavily involved in our business strategies, I now feel that the best role I can play in our businesses is one of founder, chairman and most senior cheerleader, spending less time on the day-to-day management oversight."

Blank continues,

"“We will be thoughtful and deliberate in filling this position, as finding the right person is more important than finding someone soon.”"

The new CEO of Arthur Blank’s ventures will have an all-encompassing job, overseeing every facet of the multi-billionaire’s assets. One of the key aspects of the hiring of this CEO is that Rich McKay, President and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, will have to answer to Blank’s new CEO, whoever that may be. Because McKay right now reports to Blank, the addition of a new CEO would essentially nullify his position as Falcons President and CEO.

While I understand the logic behind this recent decision from Arthur Blank, I find it very hard to believe that he will actually take a step back — especially from the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC. Blank has always been a very assertive owner, managing much of the day-to-day operations of the Falcons. Unlike many owners who delegate personnel searches and the administrative duties of their organizations to their presidents and general managers, Arthur Blank has always been in the center of organizational decisions, evidenced by the hiring of coach Dan Quinn this past offseason.

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What makes this revelation even more difficult to believe it will actually come to fruition is that Atlanta United FC, still almost two years away from making their MLS Debut, is his newest venture, making it highly unlikely that Arthur Blank will just leave a relatively new business in the hands of another executive. Blank has always been a professional who builds a business from the ground up to increase his brand awareness, demonstrated by his entrepreneurship with The Home Depot and the Atlanta Falcons.

Though we may hear shortly the announcement of a new CEO of all of Arthur Blank’s ongoing enterprises, I do not expect for Blank to stand idly by and step away entirely. He will still be the face of his franchises, and will always have a say in what is happening because it’s in his nature as a person, and as a businessman.

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