Matthew Caldwell Takes the Helm as CEO of Timberwolves and Lynx, Aiming to Elevate Minnesota Sports

FORT LAUDERDALE (AP)— Matthew Caldwell is leaving his role as president of business operations for the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in order to take on a decade-long position as CEO of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.

The transition was officially announced by the teams on Wednesday. Caldwell will begin managing the “daily business operations and high-level strategic initiatives for the Timberwolves, Lynx, and the G League’s Iowa Wolves” starting on September 2.

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This significant appointment reflects the ambitions of new Timberwolves and Lynx owners, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who took full ownership of the franchises earlier this summer.

“I have a deep appreciation for the NHL. I love hockey and am a huge supporter of the sport,” Caldwell remarked. “However, the NBA offers a much more expansive, global stage. I firmly believe in Marc and Alex and their aspirations. They aim to elevate Minnesota to the top tier of professional sports.”

Caldwell joined the Panthers back in 2014 as chief operating officer and rose to the position of CEO in 2016.

“Our goal is for the Timberwolves and Lynx to establish a new benchmark for excellence in professional sports, and we are confident that Matthew is the right person to bring this vision to fruition,” stated Lore and Rodriguez in a united announcement. “Steering our organization into an innovative new phase demands an extraordinary leader, and Matthew’s successful history with the Florida Panthers is irrefutable. We are excited to witness the exceptional impact his dynamic leadership will create for this organization.”

Caldwell, a West Point graduate who served in the Army, holds both an MBA and a law degree from Northwestern University, and has professional experience on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs, played a crucial role in several aspects of the Panthers’ impressive revival in recent years, particularly off the ice.