MotoGP overhauls leadership with hires from F1, NFL and TKO
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 23, 2026
MotoGP leadership overhaul
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group overhauled its leadership team with a wave of outside hires from major sports organizations as it pushed into its next phase of global growth. The new lineup brought in experience from Formula 1, the UFC, TKO Group Holdings, the NFL, Warner Bros. Discovery, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Louise Young joined as chief operating officer after more than eight years with Formula 1. Denitza Batchvarova came in as chief strategy officer after working at UFC and TKO Group Holdings. Sameer Pabari took over as chief media officer after senior roles at the NFL, Warner Bros. Discovery and Manchester United. Ryan Norys joined as chief commercial officer after working at Tottenham Hotspur. MotoGP reshaped its executive team across operations, strategy, media and commercial work.
MotoGP executive hires
The moves gave MotoGP a broader leadership structure across the business. Together, the hires covered operations, strategy, media and commercial work. MotoGP said the new group would help expand its commercial, media, operations and strategy capabilities, deepen fan engagement and create new opportunities for partners.
MotoGP growth plans
Liberty Media bought a majority stake in Dorna in a deal that valued MotoGP at $4.5 billion. MotoGP also kept parts of its internal leadership in motion. Carlos Ezpeleta was promoted to deputy CEO under his father, Carmelo Ezpeleta. Vince Russell became chief financial officer, and Enrique Aldama shifted to chief administrative officer. MotoGP paired its existing leadership with executives from the wider sports and media marketplace to expand its commercial, media, operations and strategy capabilities, deepen fan engagement and create new opportunities for partners.
