Aug 24, 2023
Delaware North appoints TD Garden President Amy Latimer to EVP and Chief Operating Officer of global business operations
BOSTON, M.A. (Aug. 23, 2023) – Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and entertainment, today announced Amy Latimer, the longtime president of TD Garden and chief development officer of Delaware North, has been appointed to the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer as of October 16.
In this role, based at Delaware North’s global headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y., she will have responsibility for Delaware North’s business operations around the world, with accountability for driving performance at more than 200 high-profile locations across sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports and travel hubs, and gaming properties. She will report to the company’s three CEOs, Jerry Jacobs Jr., Lou Jacobs and Charlie Jacobs. She succeeds longtime Delaware North executive Jim Houser, who will retire at the end of this year.
Latimer is a 27-year veteran for Delaware North, joining the company in 1995 as an inaugural member of the leadership team at TD Garden. She served in progressive leadership roles until she was appointed to the position of President of TD Garden in 2012. Under Latimer’s leadership, TD Garden has undergone a significant transformation. As arena president, she led a $70 million, floor-to-ceiling renovation in 2015 and a multilevel, $100-plus million, 50,000- square-foot arena expansion that opened to the public in 2019. Dubbed TD Garden’s Legendary Transformation, this project provided a completely enhanced fan experience – from new entrances to re-imagined premium products and amenities, state-of[1]the-art vertical transportation and several new bars, lounges and seating areas.
“Amy has been a trailblazer for TD Garden and a prominent leader in the community and City of Boston,” said Charlie Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North and CEO of the Boston Bruins. “We have worked closely here in Boston for decades and while I will miss having her leading TD Garden, I am eager to see what she will bring to her new role at Delaware North.”
“Following a thorough and comprehensive selection process, Amy emerged as the ideal choice given her depth of experience and her ability to bridge operational leadership with a broad enterprise perspective,” said Jerry Jacobs Jr., CEO of Delaware North.
“She is highly regarded by her team members, peers and our clients, and we know her voice will be a valuable addition to the Office of the Chief Executive,” said Lou Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North.
Thanks to her extensive experience and knowledge in the sports and entertainment industry, Latimer raised the profile of Boston’s premier arena by attracting national and international events, including the 2015 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four, 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional, 2021 Laver Cup, 2022 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four and the upcoming 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional and 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Numerous historic banners were raised to TD Garden rafters during her tenure, including the 2008 Boston Celtics championship banner and the 2011 Boston Bruins championship banner.
A recognized leader in the sports and arena industry, Latimer was named one of Sports Business Journal’s “Game Changers” in 2011, “WISE Woman of the Year” in 2015 and a “Boston Business Power Player” in 2017 by Boston Magazine. With Latimer at the helm, TD Garden has been consistently ranked among The Boston Globe’s “Top 100 Women-led businesses in Boston.” Additionally, she was appointed to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s board of directors, serves on the Massachusetts Large Venue Security Task Force, and named to the New England Advisory Council for the Boston Federal Reserve.
In 2021, Latimer took on additional responsibility as chief growth officer for Delaware North, successfully steering business development and revenue management teams and playing a pivotal role in driving our growth strategies forward.
Latimer’s appointment to EVP and chief operating officer will officially take effect October 16. She will work alongside current EVP and COO Jim Houser until his retirement at the end of the year. The company has commenced a process to determine the best succession plan for Latimer’s current roles as president of TD Garden and Delaware North chief growth officer.