Press Release
COGEN COMES "HOME" TO DALLAS STARS AS TEAM PRESIDENT
Lites Moves To Expanded Role With Hicks Sports Marketing Group
DALLAS -- In the words of the new president of the Dallas Stars, Jeff Cogen, "I'm coming home."
Dallas Stars Owner Tom Hicks announced this morning the appointment of Cogen as president of the NHL franchise, the cornerstone of Hicks' interests and investments in sports and its related interests after he bought the hockey club in 1995. For three years, Cogen has served as president of the Texas Rangers, the major league baseball club that Hicks also owns. Concurrently, Hicks announced that Jim Lites, who has had split assignments between his leadership at the Stars and Hicks Sports Marketing Group (HSMG), will now be totally dedicated to, what Hicks defined, as the "global mission" at HSMG.
"The Stars franchise and the Stars fans need a man like Cogen, and I need Jim Lites working full-time on the national and international expansion and marketing of our properties," said Hicks.
Hicks said the new assignments will take effect immediately. He did not indicate a timetable for the selection of a new president of the Texas Rangers.
"The Rangers have strong depth of management in operations, marketing and ticketing," said Hicks. "I have asked Jeff to apply his considerable talent and creative energies to the revitalization of the Dallas Stars. At the same time, Jim Lites is 'on point' for myriad HSMG projects including the planning and construction of a new stadium for Liverpool FC as well as the efforts to build a hockey arena in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park, Texas."
Longtime friends and allies, Lites and Cogen came to Dallas after Norman Green brought the team to North Texas from Minnesota in 1993.
Cogen, who has served as president of the Texas Rangers for the last three years, has over 20 years experience in professional sports. Prior to his three-year stint with the Rangers, he served as chief operating officer for the NHL's Florida Panthers from 2001-2004, responsible for all business operations of the hockey club as well as the business operations of the National Car Rental Center/Office Depot Center.
Lites has served as president of the Dallas Stars in each of the club's 14 seasons in North Texas. Last year, he also assumed leadership as president of newly-formed Hicks Sports Marketing Group, the venture formed to represent Hicks' syndicate of interests in sports, advertising sales and media.
About Hicks Sports Marketing Group:
Formed in July 2006, Hicks Sports Marketing Group represents the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, the Liverpool Football Club and other Hicks-owned interests in sports, media and real estate. In its new role as a full-service marketing agency, Hicks Sports Marketing Group now represents a broad range of sports properties throughout the United States and Europe. Hicks Sports Marketing Group delivers a wealth of expertise in many facets of the sports business: the selling and buying of advertising and sponsorships, strategic branding and sports marketing for international corporations.