The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) announced today that it has selected Jim Haworth as its CEO.
Haworth, who will report to the PBR Board of Directors, will lead the day-to-day business of the PBR, with oversight of all departments, including operations, finance, marketing and competition. He will begin his duties immediately, and will be based in the Pueblo, Colorado headquarters, building upon the PBR’s rich history and business franchise.
During his long career, Haworth has served in a variety of senior executive positions at leading companies and most recently was Executive Vice President, President of Retail Services and Transformation Officer for Sears Holding Corporation and its Sears and Kmart units. Haworth, who previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Executive Vice President of Operations for Sam’s Club and Chairman, President & CEO of China’s Lotus Supercenters, has nearly 30 years of experience in the leadership and implementation of retail operations, merchandising solutions, strategic planning, financial restructuring, information technology and tactical marketing.
“Jim has rich business experience and I am confident he will help us further elevate our sport and the PBR brand,” said Rick Patterson, Chairman of the PBR Board of Directors and Partner at Spire Capital. “Jim has been an advisor to the PBR for years. He is a passionate fan of both the sport and of the western lifestyle, a man who brings out the cowboy in all of us. He is a great fit for the PBR.”
“Bringing on someone with Jim’s experience will further enable the PBR’s global growth and ensure implementation of the business plan that the senior management team has developed over the past several months,” said Jeffrey Pollack, Executive Chairman of the PBR Board of Directors.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity of serving as CEO of the PBR and to be working alongside the entire PBR leadership team, sponsors, business partners and fans to continue building upon the storied history of this sport,” said Haworth. “I believe that my professional experience and expertise, combined with my love of the sport, will help us achieve our goals and fully realize the vision of the PBR and its founders.”
Ty Murray, PBR Founder and Board Advisor commented, “I’ve known Jim for years. He has the values of a great businessman and a cowboy and I look forward to seeing him lead the PBR in the exciting times ahead.”
About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 100 million viewers annually watch over 400 hours of primetime PBR programming on VERSUS, NBC, CBS and networks around the world. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money, and 20 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million – the most of any western-sports athlete in history. The PBR was nominated as 2010 Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards, alongside the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. Nearly 2 million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamPBR and http://twitter.com/TEAMPBR.
