USOC hires chief of business operations

The United States Olympic Committee today announced the hiring of Kevin Penn as chief of business operations, a newly created position that will report to USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.

"Kevin’s strategic, results-driven experience will help take the business side of our organization to the next level and allow us to continue providing world-class support to Team USA," said Blackmun. "I’m thrilled that he’s joined our team and can’t wait for him to get started."

Penn joins the USOC from Highwoods Properties, a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he served as senior vice president of strategy and administration. At Highwoods, he managed the company’s strategic plan, which incorporated performance management, investment strategy, portfolio planning, organizational development and business planning functions. He also led several of the corporate services departments supporting the organization.

As the USOC chief of business operations, Penn will partner with USOC departments and be responsible for introducing new standards of performance while driving efficiencies and providing direct oversight for USOC corporate departments including audit, business intelligence, facilities, finance, information technology, security and strategic planning.

"The opportunity to join the USOC and contribute to the success of such a truly unique organization is a dream come true," said Penn. "Having had the chance to learn more about the USOC and what it means to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic families, I intend to work tirelessly to make our business operations as elite as the athletes we serve."

Prior to his nearly 19 years at Highwoods, Penn worked for a leading biotechnology firm in San Francisco. He has also been active civically as the immediate past chair of both the Triangle District Council of the Urban Land Institute and the North Carolina Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Penn received his bachelor’s degree in English from Boston University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Along with his wife and two children, Penn will relocate to Colorado and be based at the USOC’s headquarters in Colorado Springs with a start date of July 18th.

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