The Charlotte Sports Foundation’s board selected Will Pitts to succeed Danny Morrison as CEO starting April 1. Morrison had led the sports promotion group since 2019. The former president of the Carolina Panthers will remain as an executive adviser.
“As someone who grew up in Charlotte and has been working on CSF’s events for most of my career, I am unbelievably excited to be named CEO.” Pitts said in a release.
Pitts has 15 years experience managing foundation events, most recently as chief operating officer. He has a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and an MBA from Wake Forest University.
Best known for leading the annual December college football bowl game, the group has added the Ally Tipoff, Charlotte Invitational, Savannah Bananas 2025 World Tour and other events.
Morrison has a long history in the sports world. He was an athletic director of Wofford College and Texas Christian University and commissioner of the Southern Conference before working for the Carolina Panthers from 2008-17 when Jerry Richardson was the principal owner. Morrison is a Wofford graduate.
Pitts’ promotion “is not only well-deserved with his terrific talent and experience, but also part of a well-thought-out process together with the Executive Committee of the Board,” Morrison said.
Charlotte business leaders started the foundation in 2013 by combining Charlotte Collegiate Football and the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission. The foundation’s board includes leaders of many of the city’s biggest employers. Co-chairs are developer Johnny Harris and retired Bank of America executive Andrea Smith.
The nonprofit group had revenue of $18.5 million in the fiscal year ending March 2023, including ticket sales, grants and other contributions, according to its most recent tax filing. The annual bowl game in December has been sponsored by Duke’s Mayo in recent years. It received $1.07 million in government grants in 2023, according to the report.
Morrison had compensation of about $420,000, while Pitts received about $250,000, the report noted.
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