U.S. Masters Swimming Hires New CEO

Sarasota, Fla., March 15, 2016—The USMS Board of Directors has selected Dawson Hughes to be Masters Swimming’s new chief executive officer. Hughes joins USMS from the Orange Bowl Committee, where he served as vice president of business development. The Orange Bowl is a South Florida nonprofit sports organization that features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Capital One Orange Bowl, a top-tier college football postseason bowl game.

A sports business executive with a strong background in revenue generation, corporate and community partnerships, and operations management for large-scale professional and collegiate sporting events, Hughes has led business development for the Orange Bowl Committee for the past six years. His career in sports began in Major League Baseball, where he directed ticketing efforts for both the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals.

The USMS Board of Directors established a search committee to work with Turnkey Search, a top executive recruiting firm in the sports and entertainment industries, which conducted a comprehensive, nationwide search for the new CEO.

USMS is excited to bring Hughes onboard to lead the National Office staff at its Sarasota, Fla., headquarters, which was established in 2009. “Dawson was a clear choice for us with his unique mix of strong sports business and nonprofit organization experience. With the bonus of his background in youth and collegiate swimming, we’re excited for the leadership and perspective that he will bring," USMS president Patty Miller says.

Hughes is excited to join the 46-year-old organization and collaborate with the Board of Directors, volunteers, and staff to guide U.S. Masters Swimming into its next chapter. “I’m honored to become part of the Masters Swimming family and feel fortunate that my career path in sports marketing has led me back to swimming, a sport that was an integral part of my upbringing. I look forward to developing new strategies to enhance membership benefits for current Masters swimmers and grow the number of adults who stay fit through swimming,” Hughes says.

Hughes, whose tenure begins March 28, 2016, will be relocating to Sarasota from the Fort Lauderdale area with his family.