John Kimball, one of the founding executives of Real Salt Lake, is returning to the club to serve as interim president of Utah Soccer, effective immediately, Major League Soccer announced Wednesday.
Kimball, who will be taking a temporary leave from his role as president of Vivint Arena, will have exclusive management responsibility and control of operations for the organization and report to MLS Commissioner Don Garber on MLS matters during the ownership transition period. In addition, Kimball will serve as the club’s representative on the MLS Board of Governors.
“John Kimball is an experienced sports executive who brings extraordinary leadership and stability to the organization,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “John was instrumental in the launch of Real Salt Lake and has a deep connection to the local soccer community. We thank the Miller family and Larry H. Miller Group of Companies CEO Steve Starks for their support during this important transition period.”
Kimball takes over as interim president after majority owner Dell Loy Hansen announced he was taking a leave absence from the club and that he would be looking to sell Utah Soccer Holdings following a report from The Athletic alleging that he was responsible for racist behavior in his time as owner. MLS has launched an investigation into Hansen as well Chief Business Officer Andrew Carroll, following allegations made against the latter in an article by RSL Soapbox.
MLS said Tuesday that Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will oversee the investigation into "recent allegations concerning the culture at Real Salt Lake and the comments and conduct of investor-operator Dell Loy Hansen and Chief Business Officer Andrew Carroll."
A Utah native, Kimball has more than 25 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry. He was part of Real Salt Lake’s executive team for a decade, joining the club as senior vice president of business operations in 2003, two years before the team’s inaugural MLS season. After departing Real Salt Lake in early 2013, Kimball worked in the media business before joining Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment in 2015.
