CHICAGO(May 20, 2021) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has hired Ishwara Glassman Chrein as President. Glassman Chrein, a highly accomplished business executive with close to 20 years of experience – both inside and outside of sports – will oversee all aspects of the Fire’s business operations. She will join the Fire on June 1, 2021.
“I am so thrilled to be joining the Fire at such an important inflection point in the Club’s history,” said Glassman Chrein. “I’m fortunate to join a team where the owner loves Chicago, cares deeply about the players and staff, and is fully invested in building a successful team on and off the pitch. I’m looking forward to getting started and meeting everyone involved with the Club, especially the fans.”
Glassman Chrein and Sporting Director Georg Heitz will both report directly to Club Owner and Chairman Joe Mansueto.
“In Ishwara, we have found a dynamic, experienced sports executive to head up our business operations,” said Mansueto. “She is a passionate and enthusiastic leader that has a proven track record of building businesses and increasing revenue. We believe that she can significantly grow our fanbase and be a strong ambassador for the Club throughout Chicagoland. We are excited to welcome Ishwara and her family to the Fire family.”
Prior to joining the Fire, Glassman Chrein was the Head of Sports Partnerships and Business Development at Yahoo Sports / Verizon Media, where she led relationships and negotiations with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, BetMGM, and NBC, as well as other sports leagues, broadcasters, streamers, data companies, and technology companies. While at Yahoo Sports / Verizon Media, she also oversaw gaming strategy, evaluated sports rights acquisition deals across the globe, and worked with sports technology start-ups.
She began her career at McKinsey & Company and Lehman Brothers, before spending nine years at WME IMG Sports, Entertainment and Media, most recently as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales Operations and Strategic Planning.
She graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in economics and political science and received her Master in International Affairs (International Finance) from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
Glassman Chrein was a 2020 recipient of the Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award. She is a board member of the Business of Sports School, a New York City public school with an underserved student body, and speaks frequently at conferences and universities. She is believed to be only the fourth woman in league history to serve in this role.
She will be relocating to Chicago with her husband, two kids, and one enormous golden retriever.
