John Slusher Named CEO of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties

By Rory Carroll

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Longtime Nike (NYSE:NKE) executive John Slusher has been appointed CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties (USOPP) as of Wednesday. This organization is responsible for marketing and selling commercial assets for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, as well as rights for Team USA through 2028.

Slusher will oversee all revenue for LA28 and USOPP, which includes domestic sponsorship, consumer products, hospitality, and ticket sales, as stated by LA28.

Prior to this role, Slusher spent 26 years at Nike, where he led global sports marketing and managed relationships with the company’s athletes and properties.

"John's expertise in the global sports industry is second to none," said Casey Wasserman, LA28 president and chairperson. "He's an excellent addition to the best-in-class team we've assembled to execute an Olympic and Paralympic Games unlike the world has ever seen."

This position was previously held by former LA28 CEO Kathy Carter, who left in December 2023.

The Los Angeles Games are privately funded through revenue from corporate partners, licensing agreements, hospitality, ticketing programs, and a notable contribution from the International Olympic Committee.

The city of Los Angeles, which previously hosted the Games in 1932 and 1984, aims to keep costs down by utilizing existing sports venues and university campuses. The budget for LA28 is set at $6.9 billion.