Amy Latimer to helm Delaware North operations

Article posted by Coliseum, September 14^th, 2023

Image: Delaware North

Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and entertainment, recently announced that Amy Latimer, the longtime President of TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts (US) and the Chief Growth Officer of Delaware North, has been appointed to the role of Executive Vice- President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) as of October 16^th.

‘Delaware North’ stated that in this role, based at Delaware North’s global headquarters in Buffalo, New York, 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 head honchos, 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.

Delaware North is a global food service and hospitality company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. The company also operates in the lodging, sporting, airport, gambling, and entertainment industries. The company employs over 55,000 people worldwide and has over $3.2 billion in annual revenues.

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The 19,580-capacity TD Garden is a multipurpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts (US). It is named after its sponsor, TD Bank, a subsidiary of the Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Ontario (Canada). It opened in 1995 as a replacement for the original now closed less than 15,000-capacity Boston Garden and has been known as the FleetCenter and TD Banknorth Garden.

‘Delaware North’ further stated that 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 the President of TD Garden in 2012. Under Latimer’s leadership, the TD Garden has undergone a significant transformation. As the 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 reimagined premium products and amenities, state-of-the-art vertical transportation and several new bars, lounges and seating areas.

Said Jerry Jacobs Jr., Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Delaware North, “Following a comprehensive selection process, Amy emerged as the ideal choice for our next EVP and COO, given her depth of experience and her ability to bridge operational leadership with a broad enterprise perspective.”

Stated Lou Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North, “Amy’s leadership style is infused with an infectious energy that perfectly aligns with Delaware North and our values. 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.”

Added Charlie Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North and Boston Bruins (National Hockey League team), “Amy is a tireless Ambassador for Delaware North and an outspoken advocate for doing what is right for our team members and guests. We look forward to welcoming her leadership at the helm of Delaware North’s operations.”

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 the Boston Magazine. With Latimer at the helm, the 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 the Chief Growth Officer of Delaware North, successfully steering business development and revenue management teams and playing a pivotal role in driving growth strategies forward.

Latimer’s appointment to EVP and COO will officially take effect on October 16^th. 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 the President of TD Garden and Delaware North Chief Growth Officer.

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