LOS ANGELES, CA (Dec. 20, 2018) – After serving five seasons as President and COO of the Los Angeles Sparks, Christine Simmons is stepping down from the organization to become the first-ever Chief Operating Officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, effective Jan. 11, 2019. The search for the new Sparks COO is near completion after considering several viable candidates and an announcement will be made in the near future.
“I’d like to thank Christine for helping the Sparks grow both as a business as well as a change-agent in the greater Los Angeles community,” Sparks Managing Director and Governor Eric Holoman said on behalf of ownership. “We know Christine will succeed in her new role and we wish her the best. She leaves the Sparks in a great position and a model WNBA franchise.”
Since Simmons joined the organization in 2014, the Sparks have increased ticket sales by over 60%, have led the WNBA in attendance the past two seasons, have doubled ratings on Spectrum SportsNet and have impacted nearly 300,000 lives through community programs.
“It’s bittersweet to move on from such an incredible organization,” Simmons said. “From the owners, to the front office, to the players and most importantly the fans, I want to thank the entire Sparks family for an unforgettable five years. I know the Sparks are poised to reach new heights and I will be here to support the team every step of the way.”
ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES SPARKS
Founded in 1996, the Los Angeles Sparks play in the Western Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Sparks have won three WNBA Championships (2001, 2002, 2016), have qualified for the playoffs in 18 of their 22 seasons and remain the only active team in the league to winback-to-back titles. The Los Angeles Sparks are dedicated to ensuring each home game at Staples Center has a championship level entertainment experience, while showcasing the best female athletes from around the world on the court. To purchase tickets, visit http://sparks.wnba.com/tickets/.