Catie Griggs was announced as new President of Business Operations for the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Griggs, seen here at T-Mobile Park Tuesday, was formerly Chief Business Operator for the Major League Soccer team Atlanta United. (Ben VanHouten / Seattle Mariners)
“When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.” Literally every parent who had motivational aspirations after a situation went sour. This saying came into play before this Seattle Mariners baseball season even began.
The Seattle Mariners were in a bad situation with Kevin Mather. Without having a gun to his head, opting to give all kinds of unsolicited information to the Bellevue Rotary Club. This was the culmination of a cacophony of events that led to Mather being forced out as team president. Change was needed and definitely in the air.
The Mariners on the field have been dismal over the past twenty years. But the Mariners brass off the field has been a horrifying train wreck. Unfortunately, gender has played an integral role in all of this.
Dr. Lorena Martin filed suit against owner John Stanton and CEO Kevin Mather for wrongful termination. In her claim she stated that she was mistreated due to her gender and her ethnicity. While the suit was brought against Mariner’s leadership in 2018, it took until February of this year to resolve it.
The history of the Mariner’s failed actions with women is well documented, specifically with Kevin Mather. In 2009 and 2010 women came forward accusing Mather of inappropriate workplace conduct. The Mariners settled with the women and subjected Mather to unspecified discipline. The publicized result was a promotion to team president in 2014 and CEO by late 2017. With John Stanton delivering the standard unapologetic statement. “Kevin has learned from his experience and has become an outstanding leader and executive.”
Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners.
The former CBO (Chief Business Officer) of Atlanta United FC. Catie Griggs is the Seattle Mariners new President of Business Operations. Thus, becoming the highest ranking woman executive in Major League Baseball history. She’s the right person for the job, her resume, her pedigree, everything about her says, she’s the one. Atlanta holds the top 10 attendance records in the MLS with nine of those marks clearing 70,000 fans.
The sports executive universe recognizes Griggs as a creative and tenacious executive. With a pension for doing the job better than anyone else. In fact, there literally isn’t a comparison you can make to anyone else in the business.
Griggs got her MBA from one of the top business schools in the United States. The prestigious Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. In 2010, Turner Sports, the Atlanta based affiliate of the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) hired Griggs. After that, moving to TBS as Senior Director, Business Operations & Strategic Partnerships. Subsequently, Griggs left TBS in 2015 to become the General Manager of Futures Sport + Entertainment. Her LinkedIn profile states that she was responsible for growing the client base from 2 to 33. Including many blue chip brands.
With Atlanta United FC, Griggs signed on as the CBO. She was with the organization for four years. Ending her time with the MLS club in July 2021. Her credits include, launching Mercedes-Benz stadium, hoisting the MLS Cup, setting attendance records, and so many more accolades.
She doesn’t have to hit a home run with the Mariners. However, she does have to clean up a culture where the executives look at the Mariners as an expensive hobby. Compared to a legitimate title contender every year. Griggs won’t be responsible for talent acquisition, but she will be a huge part of the culture. A culture that needs to turn so many lemons into lemonade.
Catie Griggs the new President of Business Operations for the Seattle Mariners listens to chairman and managing partner John Stanton during a news conference, Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Seattle. 217760 (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)
Joe Swenson is a lifelong Seattle sports fan and contributes to many different writing and artistic genres.