Kim Pegula becomes first female Bills, Sabres President
Kim Pegula is set to make history as the new president of both the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
Pegula — a co-owner of the teams — will replace Russ Brandon, who announced his resignation on Tuesday. She will now become the first female team president in NFL history.
Kim and Terry Pegula — who will oversee team operations — released this joint statement:
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“We have a tremendous amount of confidence in the strong leadership teams we have built within each of those entities over the last several years,” the Pegulas’ statement read. “We are excited about the direction of our teams, especially after this past weekend’s NFL Draft and the NHL lottery results. Our focus remains on building championship teams on and off the field for our fans and community.”
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According to a Buffalo News report, Brandon is resigning amid an “internal investigation into Brandon’s workplace behavior and allegations of personal misconduct.”
Brandon, who has spent the last 20 years as president and CEO of the Bills, said he had been mulling leaving his post for some time.
Pegula, 48, has worked as a member of the Super Bowl Committee and the NFL Foundation Board, a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of people who work in the league. Women have previously served in minor executive positions or as assistant coaches in the NFL — like Kathryn Smith, whom the Bills hired as special teams quality control coach in 2016 — but never as a team president. Amy Trask served as CEO of the Oakland Raiders from 1997 to 2013, during Al Davis‘s tenure as owner and general manager of the organization.
Pegula will also become the only female team president in the NHL by leading the Sabres.
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Tim Graham of the Buffalo News said Pegula’s role as president of both teams will be a permanent one.
The Bills reached the playoffs this past season for the first time since 1999. They drafted Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen as the seventh overall pick last week.
The Sabres finished with the worst record in the NHL this year (25-45-12), although they have the top overall pick in the 2018 draft.
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