The Big Ten named Tony Petitti the conference’s seventh commissioner Wednesday afternoon, the league announced in a press release. Petitti will take over for Kevin Warren, who left the position after a three-year tenure to become president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears on Jan. 12. Big Ten Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Anil Gollahalli has been named interim commissioner until Petitti takes office, effective Friday, according to a Big Ten press release.
Petitti has a diverse background in sports media. Some of his previous roles include deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, president and chief executive officer of MLB Network, senior executive roles at CBS and ABC to oversee rights acquisition deals for collegiate and professional sports leagues, according to the release. He is a 14-time National Sports Emmy Award winner.
Petitti was selected for the position by the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors’ Executive Search Committee. His tenure will begin on May 15.
