The Life of Sports Executive Kim Pegula
Curated by
cdteliot
3 min read
15,295
14
Kim Pegula, the Korean-born American co-owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, has faced significant health challenges after suffering a cardiac arrest in 2022 that left her incapacitated with brain damage and memory issues.
Meeting Terry Pegula and Career Beginnings
buffalonews.com
Kim Pegula's career trajectory was significantly influenced by her chance encounter with Terry Pegula in 1991. While interviewing for a waitressing job at a restaurant in Belfast, New York, Kim struck up a conversation with Terry, who was dining there with his employees from East Resources.
1
Impressed by her, Terry offered Kim a job at his natural gas company, which she accepted. This marked the beginning of their professional and personal relationship, leading to their marriage in 1993. 2
Kim worked at East Resources alongside Terry until the company's sale in 2010. 2
This paved the way for the Pegulas to venture into sports ownership, acquiring the Buffalo Sabres and its affiliated teams shortly after, followed by the purchase of the Buffalo Bills in 2014 for a record $1.4 billion all-cash bid. 3
Kim served as the president and CEO of the holding company Pegula Sports and Entertainment, overseeing the management of these teams and other entertainment assets until its dissolution in 2023. 2
3
3 sources
Kim's Rise in the Sports Industry
democratandchronicle...
After purchasing the Buffalo Sabres in 2011, the Pegulas acquired the Buffalo Bills in 2014 for a record $1.4 billion all-cash bid, making Kim Pegula a prominent figure in the sports industry.
1
2
She became the first female president of both an NFL and NHL team, overseeing the day-to-day business operations of the Bills and Sabres. 3
4
Kim played a pivotal role in the creation of Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE) in 2014, a management company that oversaw the business operations across all Pegula-owned entities, including sports teams, entertainment assets, and the development of LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo. 3
5
Under her leadership, PSE helped bring new business opportunities to Buffalo, such as hosting the NHL Combine, the 2016 NHL Draft, the 2018 World Junior Championships, and the 2019 Frozen Four NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament. 3
2
5 sources
Kim's Health Crisis Aftermath
apnews.com
In June 2022, Kim Pegula suffered a severe cardiac arrest that left her with debilitating health issues, including expressive aphasia and significant memory problems.
1
2
After a lengthy rehabilitation process, Terry Pegula filed a petition in February 2023 to have Kim ruled legally incapacitated. 3
On March 23, 2023, a judge granted Terry the title of "plenary guardian of the person and property" of his wife, with many of Kim's assets transferred to a trust managed by Terry and his longtime business collaborator, Bob Long. 3
To comply with NFL succession planning policies, Terry transferred a small percentage of the Buffalo Bills to his daughter Laura from his previous marriage shortly after she became his ward. 3
A longtime Pegula family associate confirmed that "Kim is not coming back" to the Bills or Sabres front office due to the severity of her condition. 2
3
Laura has taken on a more prominent role, representing the Bills at league events and sitting in on executive meetings with team employees. 3
3 sources
Related
what are the future plans for the Buffalo Bills under Terry Pegula's leadership
how has Laura Pegula's involvement with the Bills been received by fans and the NFL community
what are the legal implications of Kim Pegula's incapacitation for her ownership stake in the Bills
Keep Reading
The Life of Trailblazing Sportscaster Phyllis George
Phyllis George, the former Miss America who became a trailblazing sportscaster and actress, died on May 14, 2020 at the age of 70. She made history as one of the first women to have a prominent on-air role in national sports broadcasting as a co-host of CBS Sports' "The NFL Today."
7,861
Jim Harbaugh's Career Highlights
Jim Harbaugh, the former quarterback and longtime coach, has recently taken over as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers after a successful stint at the University of Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances.
4,027
Beane’s Journey: From MLB to Analytics
Billy Beane, born William Lamar Beane III on March 29, 1962, in Orlando, Florida, is a former professional baseball player and a pioneering front office executive. Known for his innovative use of sabermetrics in player evaluation, Beane has significantly influenced Major League Baseball as the longtime executive vice president of baseball operations and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics, and he is also a minority owner of soccer clubs Barnsley FC and AZ Alkmaar.
3,099
The Life of Sports Team Owner David Tepper
David Alan Tepper is an American billionaire hedge fund manager, known for founding Appaloosa Management and owning the NFL's Carolina Panthers and MLS's Charlotte FC. With a net worth of approximately $20 billion, Tepper is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors of his generation, having built his fortune through astute financial strategies and a philosophy of "Learn it, Earn it, Return it."
3,151