The Canes have brought in a new president and CEO for the business side of things.
When former Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell left the team this offseason, he didn't just leave a hole on the hockey ops side of things.
As team president as well as general manager, Waddell had overseen the business side of the Hurricanes too so his departure left quite a hole for the Canes.
However, just like it didn't take long for him to be replaced by new general manager Eric Tulsky on the hockey side of things, it also didn't take the team long to find suitable replacements on the business side.
The Hurricanes first announced the hiring of Doug Warf as President of Hurricanes Holdings, LLC. on July 8.
“Doug brings a wealth of knowledge to this position,” said team owner Tom Dundon in a press release. “His experiences with the Hurricanes, in business, and in the community make him well-suited to lead the organization. Doug will help us create the most exciting game day environment in sports for our fans, as we look forward to arena renovations and construction of the mixed-use district.”
Warf spent 16 years with the Hurricanes previously, from 2001 to 2017, in a multitude of sales and marketing positions, most recently as the Vice President of Marketing, before taking a job with MDO Holdings.
Now he returns to the team in an even larger capacity than before as he will oversee all business operations for both the Hurricanes as well as PNC Arena.
“I would like to thank Tom Dundon for entrusting me with this great opportunity. It’s a true honor to serve in this role,” Warf said in a press release. “Over the last twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of working with the last three team Presidents— so I know the expectations for this position are very high. I have always loved how this team and arena play an integral role in strengthening our overall bond as a community. I look forward to working with the talented Hurricanes Holdings team to continue furthering that bond, while also setting the standard for hospitality and entertainment.”
Here is a synopsis on Warf's experience provided by the Hurricanes:
Warf most recently served as the President of MDO Holdings, a Raleigh-based investment and management firm. He oversaw all business operations for nine different operating portfolio companies across a variety of industries and provided business operations and marketing counsel to several key companies in the MDO Holdings investment portfolio. Warf joined MDO Holdings in 2017 as Chief Marketing Officer before becoming President in 2019.
Prior to his time with MDO Holdings, Warf spent 16 years working for the Hurricanes in various sales and marketing roles. He originally joined the organization as a sales intern during the 2000-01 NHL season, before working his way up to Vice President of Marketing, a position he held from 2010-17. As Vice President of Marketing, Warf led the Hurricanes’ design, video production, promotions, fan development and community relations efforts. He served as the club’s lead representative for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh and helped lead two major uniform redesigns.
Warf also served as the Executive Director of the Hurricanes Foundation, formerly known as the Kids ‘N Community Foundation, from 2007-17. During that time, the Foundation set multiple in-house records for funds raised and funds distributed, giving out more than $5 million to over 100 different North Carolina non-profit organizations. Warf currently serves on several non-profit boards, including Triangle Family Services, the North Carolina Symphony, the Frankie Lemmon School, Band Together and William Peace University. He was named to Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2015 while working for the Hurricanes. Warf is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he earned a B.A. in Communication.
Following Warf's hire, the Canes then announced the hiring of Brian Fork as CEO of Hurricanes Holdings, LLC. on July 11.
“Brian has a proven track record of negotiating, making deals, and finding solutions,” Dundon said in a press release. “We want to set the standard in sports and entertainment, and Brian has the background to help us reach that goal, through our upcoming arena renovations and property development.”
As CEO, Fork will be tasked with supervising all aspects of Hurricanes Holdings including the Hurricanes, PNC Arena, the mixed-use real estate development and the future sportsbook.
“As a Raleigh native and Hurricanes fan, the arena and its surroundings have been a special place to me for decades,” Fork said in a press release. “Tom Dundon has a vision to turn this area into the premier sports and entertainment district in the country, and it’s an honor to be a part of the team that will work to bring that vision to life. Watching the arena transform into a sellout-every-night building over the last several years has been a thrill. I’m excited to partner with new President Doug Warf and join the team responsible for that growth, as we work to build upon the team’s success and start the next phase of renovation and development.”
Here's a synopsis of Fork's experience provided by the Hurricanes:
Fork served as Chief of Staff to NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger for the last four years, following two years as Senate General Counsel. In his role as Senate Chief of Staff, Fork took a lead role in negotiations with the NC House of Representatives and Governor’s office over key legislation such as the state budget, energy policy, health care reform and the reopening of schools post-COVID. He has also participated in negotiations over major economic development projects in the state, coordinating efforts between the General Assembly, Governor’s office, Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of NC and major companies considering a move to North Carolina. Fork currently serves on the five-member NC Economic Investment Committee, which evaluates economic development projects and makes approvals on state economic development grants.
Prior to joining the legislature, Fork was a Raleigh-based partner at two law firms, K&L Gates, LLP and Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey and Leonard, LLP. His 13 years of private law practice focused on commercial restructuring and bankruptcy, real estate and business disputes, and commercial litigation. Fork was named to Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2015 during his time as a partner at K&L Gates, LLP. He is a graduate of Davidson College, where he was a member of the football team, and the UNC School of Law. Following graduation from Davidson and prior to attending law school, Fork worked as an assistant football coach at Davidson, coaching running backs and wide receivers.
