NEW YORK (December 20, 2022) – The NWSL names Lauren Lopez as Chief People and Culture Officer. This announcement takes place six days after the Report of the NWSL and NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) Joint Investigative Team was released.
“Lauren’s wealth of experience, particularly with respect to culture building, diversity, equity and inclusion, will be extremely valuable to us as we continue our efforts to improve and strengthen the league moving forward,” says NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman.
Lopez will oversee HR operations, talent acquisition, and DEI strategies with responsibility for the league’s organizational design, overseeing and enhancing player education, engagement, and experience. She will officially begin this role in January.
About Lauren Lopez
Previously, Lopez worked for the New York Times as the company’s first Senior Vice President of Talent Management and oversaw career and learning development, performance enablement, and inclusion strategies. She has also served in roles with the National Basketball Association (NBA) as Head of Talent and Engagement, Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Inclusion for Condé Nast, and held HR roles at NBCUniversal, S&P Global Market Intelligence, and Bloomberg.
Lopez earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and completed Graduate Studies in Human Resource Management at Mercy College.
“The hallmarks of a great organization are a quality talent base, a supportive organizational structure, and a culture that employees, both current and prospective, are excited to be a part of,” says Lopez, “I am thrilled to take on this new role with the NWSL as the league embarks on a new chapter and look forward to creating a community and culture where all feel safe, supported and set up for success.”
NWSL/NWSLPA Joint Investigative Team Report
On December 14th, Covington & Burling LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, collectively, the Joint Investigative Team, released their investigative report following a 14-month independent investigation conducted under the direction of an Oversight Committee.
On that report was a page-long section titled “Prioritize DEI Initiatives to Create a More Inclusive Environment for All Players and Staff” to go along with Joint Investigative Team’s recommendations for systemic reform. The opening paragraph reads:
“In addition to the anti-racism and unconscious bias training and anti-harassment policy
changes described above, the NWSL should take further steps to create a more inclusive
environment for all players and staff, including players and staff of color and LGBTQIA+ players and staff. The NWSL should consider providing resources to support players and staff working to advance the interests of diverse and marginalized groups. The League should encourage all players, including those who are not members of marginalized groups, to take an active role in identifying and calling out misconduct.”
More from the report can be Read Here.
