Pete Bevacqua
Peter P. Bevacqua is an American media and sports executive. In September 2018 he became the President of NBC Sports Group.[1] Previously, Bevacqua spent neary six years as the Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of America, the world's largest sports organization, serving the association's 29,000 PGA Professionals.[2] The PGA of America is the association that oversees the United States team in the biennial Ryder Cup competition and the PGA Championship, one of golf's four majors, in addition to other championship events.
Professional career
Comcast NBCUniversal named Bevacqua as President of NBC Sports Group in July 2018. Bevacqua oversees the group's entire portfolio which includes the Olympics, the NBC Sports Regional Networks, Programming, Production, Marketing, Digital, Operations, and all Golf businesses under the NBC Sports umbrella.
Bevacqua was originally named the PGA CEO in November 2012 and was subsequently signed to two contract extensions. His first extension came in November 2013 along with another extension which came in November 2017, and was due to carry him through 2024.[2]
In August 2017, Bevacqua steered the announcement that the PGA Championship will be conducted annually in May for the first time in 70 years, beginning in 2019.[3]
In February 2015, in an article written within Sports Illustrated Golf and titled "The Face of The PGA," Senior Writer Alan Shipnuck pronounced Bevacqua as, "...the Game's New Power Broker."[4]
In 2014, the PGA of America designed and implemented a long-term strategic plan that focused on two main goals: To better serve the PGA member and to grow the game. Alan Shipnuck of Golf.com described Bevacqua's vision as, "... growing the game to create more opportunities for PGA pros, embracing new technology to make the membership more relevant, and improving communication with the national headquarters to make the pros feel more valued."[4]
In October 2013, Bevacqua successfully negotiated a 15-year media rights extension through 2030 with NBC Sports Group for the Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship and PGA Professional Championship.
Bevacqua was appointed as the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors' Chairman in 2015. In that role he contributed to the International Golf Federation's work to return golf to the Olympics, beginning with the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
A former SportsBusiness Journal “Forty Under 40” Award recipient in 2009, Bevacqua was honored with the prestigious “Sports Leadership Award” by the March of Dimes in November 2016. He is a board member of RISE, an alliance of sports organizations that promote racial equality.
Bevacqua graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1993. He earned a juris doctorate from Georgetown University, graduating cum laude in 1997. He began his professional career as a legal associate at Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP in New York City before joining the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 2001. He first served as the USGA's In-House Counsel for two years and then was promoted to serve as the USGA's first-ever Managing Director of the U.S. Open. In 2009, Bevacqua was appointed as the USGA's first-ever Chief Business Officer, a position he held until leaving for CAA Sports three years later where he served as Global Head of Golf until the fall of 2012 when he was appointed as the PGA CEO.
Early life
Bevacqua grew up in Bedford, New York. He was introduced to the game of golf at a young age by his father, Arthur, who was a dentist. He began caddying at the local golf club in Bedford at age 10 and continued to work there as a caddie and pro shop manager all the way through his college summers while attending Notre Dame. Bevacqua's golf training “was enhanced by Walt Ronan, the charismatic head pro at Bedford Golf and Tennis Club.”
Bevacqua attended Brunswick School in nearby Greenwich, Connecticut, where he was valedictorian, senior class president and all-league in football, basketball and golf.[5] He was a walk-on punter for head football coach Lou Holtz during his collegiate days at Notre Dame.[6]
Personal life
Bevacqua and his wife, Tiffany, have one daughter and two sons.[3]
References
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (July 24, 2018). "Peter Bevacqua Named President of NBC Sports". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "PGA of America extends contract of CEO Pete Bevacqua through 2024". PGA of America. November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ a b "Peter Bevacqua, PGA of America Leaders". PGA of America. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "The Face of the PGA". Golf.com. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ "Pete Bevacqua, new PGA of America CEO, 'lives for family, golf and Notre Dame football'". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
- ^ "New leadership: PGA's search for Bevacqua". Golfweek. January 25, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2017.