New additions to the LIV Golf executive team bring decades of experience across sports, entertainment and live events.
LIV Golf today announced the hiring of John Ruzich as the League’s new Chief Legal Officer and Denise Taylor as Head of Product & Technology.
Ruzich will oversee all legal functions across the LIV Golf League and its 13 teams, including international operations and events, while Taylor will lead the League’s department for global technology solutions and products. Both industry veterans will be based in New York and officially begin this month.
Welcoming John and Denise to our leadership team is another big step for our League as we continually enhance our operations and scale our business,” said LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman.
“Their deep expertise, honed through leadership roles at premiere sports organizations, makes them invaluable additions.
“I am confident that their strategic vision and commitment to excellence will not only strengthen our legal and technology departments but also propel us to new heights in 2025 and beyond.”
Ruzich is coming to LIV Golf from Legends, where he was Chief Administration Officer and Chief Legal Officer for the global live events business.
In Legends for the past 12 years, Ruzich was not only handling all the legal, business, human resources, risk management and administrative functions of the company.
Before coming to Legends, he held the position of the Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs and General Counsel for Classic Media, the world’s largest independent owner of kids’ content and entertainment franchises until its acquisition by DreamWorks Animation.
Since his admission to the bar, Ruzich had positions at the WWE and the New Jersey Devils.
I am excited to be part of LIV Golf during this crucial stage as the League grows and transforms the game in worldwide.” Said Ruzich
“It’s been impressive to watch LIV Golf forge a new path within the professional game in such a short amount of time, and it’s clear that the League has ambitious and exciting plans as it builds for the long term.
“I look forward to collaborating with LIV’s talented team and can’t wait to get started.”
Taylor brings to LIV Golf a wealth of experience across several sectors, specializing in sports, live events, and large-scale, technology-driven projects.
Her career spans executive roles at major organizations including AEG, Westfield, Legends, and Tottenham Hotspur FC, where she consistently led the transformation of business operations through technology and digital innovation.
At Legends, Taylor served as the President of Global Technology Solutions where she launched a new division focused on implementing new technologies, digital, data and analytics into stadiums globally.
While serving as Chief Information and Technology Officer at AEG, Taylor launched AEG-IT, a consulting arm focused on designing and operating state-of-the-art stadiums and venues, working with clients including the NFL, NBA, FIFA, and Coachella.
“LIV Golf is clearly committed to thinking outside the box by using technology and innovation to build a product that connects with new audiences, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of that,” said Taylor.
The possibilities in the League, its teams, players, and products are practically limitless throughout the whole organization. I am ready to contribute into its further development all over the world and join the League.
Ruzich and Taylor are recent appointments to the League’s growing executive leadership team.
In the last 6 months, LIV Golf has hired Ilana Finley as the Chief Communications Officer, Adam Harter as the Chief Marketing Officer, David Phillipps as the Chief Financial Officer, and Katie O’Reilly as the Executive Vice President and Head of Team Business Operations, Ross Hallett as the Executive Vice President and Head of Event, Pam Sacree as the Head of People and Culture, and most recently has appointed Tim Taylor
The LIV Golf League finished its second full year of a 14-tournament cycle in September this year with Sydney’s Ripper GC (Cameron Smith, Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman) winning the 2024 Team title and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm the 2024 Individual title.
LIV Golf League has recently revealed plans regarding LIV Golf Promotions happening on the 12th-14th of Dec at Riyadh Golf Club; the event outlines opportunities for international golfers to qualify for a spot in the league and The International Series for 2025.
The League’s third official campaign gets underway February in key international cities in Asia, Australia, and Middle East.