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CHICAGO (June 28, 2007) – Chicago 2016 announced a series of new hires today including David P. Bolger as chief operating officer (COO) and Rick Ludwig as chief financial officer (CFO). The announcement was made by Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO, Patrick G. Ryan. In addition, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today two new senior staff members to work out of the Chicago 2016 office.
“Dave and Rick bring a wealth of experience to our organization as we intensify our mission to bring the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Chicago,” said Ryan. “Dave has a proven track record of successfully managing large-scale efforts and complex organizations, and I’m confident he will be a tremendous asset to the bid.”
Ryan added, “Rick is one of the world’s foremost experts on Olympic and Paralympic financial management and will ensure that Chicago 2016 is able to present a responsible and realistic financial plan to the International Olympic Committee.”
Bolger currently serves as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer of Aon Corporation, a global provider of risk management services, human resources consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. Prior to joining Aon, Bolger served in various senior management roles within Bank One Corporation and its predecessor companies, including First Chicago Corporation and American National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago. He will join Chicago 2016 on a full time basis pending transition of his Aon duties to a successor.
Ludwig, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 2010 Evaluation Commission team, served as the senior financial planning executive for Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. He has worked with several Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games, Olympic bids and the IOC's Olympic Games Knowledge Services. He is the primary author of the IOC's bid guidelines on building and justifying an operating budget for the Games.
The USOC added two senior staff members to the Chicago 2016 office to ensure a seamless, cohesive partnership between the bid committee and the USOC. Chris Sullivan has been named USOC Chief Bid Officer and Kimberly Meyer has been named USOC Senior Bid Director.
“The USOC is extremely pleased to have individuals with the knowledge and expertise that Chris and Kimberly possess working in a full-time capacity in support of the Chicago 2016 bid,” said USOC Vice President, International, Bob Ctvrtlik. “We are proud to support our partners in Chicago as we work to earn the honor of welcoming the athletes of the world for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Sullivan has spent more than 10 years with the USOC working in a variety of senior-level positions with Bid Committees and Organizing Committees. From 2003-05, he served as the USOC Director of Operations for NYC2012. Sullivan also served as the Director of Salt Lake Games Integration for the USOC for the highly successful 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In his new role, Sullivan will facilitate the partnership between the USOC and Chicago 2016 while garnering and maximizing the resources of the USOC and the U.S. Olympic Family in support of the bid.
Meyer has been a committed volunteer for the USOC. As a Chicago-based senior management executive, she most recently served as vice president of marketing for Palladian Development, managing the launch of the Mandarin Oriental Tower in Chicago. In her new role, Meyer will be responsible for the day-to-day interaction and coordination between Chicago 2016 and the USOC.
Chicago 2016 also announced several additional senior staff appointments:
John J. Murray – Chief of Bid Operations
<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Murray, who has been a member of the Chicago 2016 since its inception, will be responsible for day-to-day bid operations and coordination of resources. Until now, John has been on executive loan from McKinsey & Company, where he was a consultant in the firm’s Chicago office.
Kevann Cooke – Chief Ethics and Governance Officer
<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Cooke was formerly senior vice president, corporate secretary and chief governance officer of Aon Corporation, where she also managed the Department of Community Affairs and the Foundation.
Prior to that, Cooke was deputy chief of staff and special assistant for legal affairs to the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
Linda Mastandrea, Paralympic Medalist (1996) – Vice President of Sport
<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Mastandrea has not only been serving as the athlete advisor to Chicago 2016, she has also been running a legal practice concentrating in disability law and advocacy.
She competed in wheelchair basketball for 12 years and in wheelchair track for 10. She represented the United States in Paralympic, World Championships and Parapan American competition in wheelchair track winning 15 gold and five silver medals over seven years. She held national and world records in all five distances in which she competed during her career.
Gyata Kimmons – Director of Community Relations
<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Kimmons joins Chicago 2016 after serving as deputy director of Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He has also clerked for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and worked in Mayor Daley’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Patricia Rios – Director of Finance and Administration
Rios joins Chicago 2016 after having held positions as chief of staff for the CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, Deputy CFO of the Chicago Housing Authority, and director of finance for the Public Building Commission of Chicago.
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About Chicago 2016
The Chicago 2016 Exploratory Committee is an Illinois 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek, on behalf of the City of Chicago, the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The Committee’s Board comprises business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Its honorary chairmen are Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Patrick Ryan serves as chairman and CEO.
About the USOC
The mission of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is to support America’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes in achieving sustained competitive excellence and preserve the Olympic Ideals, and thereby inspire all Americans. The USOC is also the sole entity in the United States authorized to select and submit a U.S. City for consideration to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.