CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers are promoting from within to fill the team’s CEO position.
Nic Barlage was named CEO of the Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday. He is being promoted from his role as president of business operations and COO for Rock Entertainment Group.
Barlage replaces Len Komoroski, the Cavaliers CEO from 2013 who announced last week he would step away from his role as CEO at the end of this season. Komoroski joined the Cavaliers as president in 2003, ahead of Dan Gilbert’s purchase of the team in 2005.
Barlage rejoined the Cavaliers in 2017 as president of business operations and was named COO for Rock Entertainment Group when it was established in 2021. He worked as the Cavaliers vice president of sales and service from 2008 to 2014, but left for three seasons with the Phoenix Suns before returning to Cleveland.
“It is an absolute honor and privilege to have the opportunity to lead the business operations for a dynamic organization that shares such a special bond with our community and partners,” Barlage said in a statement. “We look forward to an exciting future and building on the strong foundation that Len Komoroski and all of our hard-working team members, past and present, helped establish.”
Barlage was previously part of the organization for five seasons starting in 2008 and continuing through 2014 when, as the Vice President of Sales and Service, he departed to join the NBA’s Phoenix Suns for three seasons as their Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer.
“We are excited to elevate Nic to CEO and for him to lead the Cavaliers business operation and our great team of people across our organization,” said Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert in a statement. “The Cavaliers are in excellent position for high-level success both on and off-the court. ...
“Nic is both an exceptional, community-minded leader and a great teammate. For several years now, he has been at the core of decision-making, innovation and growth for the Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and we are very pleased to have him at the helm of our business operations group while we all look forward to continuing the great momentum that has been established.”