Pac-12, the US college sports conference, has appointed George Kliavkoff as its new commissioner.
Kliavkoff, who succeeds the long-serving Larry Scott, was hired after the conference presidents conducted a four-month search, and begins his five year contract on 1 July.
Kliavkoff has been president of MGM Resorts, the US casino and gaming giant, since 2018 and has experience with professional sports leagues and digital properties. Prior to MGM, Kliavkoff he had stints at MLB Advanced Media, Hearst, Hulu and NBC Universal.
In a statement, Pac-12 said Kliavkoff brings “unparalleled expertise and leadership in live sports and entertainment, fan experience, content creation and distribution, and navigating complicated environments".
Kliavkoff takes over as Pac-12 aims to rebuild its American football brand, with the conference only placing a team in the College Football Playoff twice since its introduction in 2014.
Kliavkoff said: “I am thrilled to be the Pac-12 commissioner. This is a challenging time for intercollegiate athletics, but I believe these challenges also create significant opportunities. I loved being a student-athlete, and I’m passionate about the doors that college sports and higher education open for young women and men.
"My job at the Pac-12 will be to help manage the balance between continued academic excellence, student-athlete well-being and an even higher level of athletic achievement.”
