Keith Pelley Announces Departure from DP World Tour to Lead MLSE in Exciting New Chapter

Keith Pelley is set to depart from his position as Chief Executive of the DP World Tour to assume a new role at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), as confirmed by the European Tour group on Thursday. Having served as the chief executive of the European Tour since 2015, Pelley will take on the role of President and CEO at MLSE, which owns brands like the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

Expressing gratitude for his tenure, Pelley stated, “It has been an incredible honor to be the Chief Executive of this wonderful institution for the past eight and a half years”. His initial goal upon joining in 2015 was to foster a culture of innovation, increase prize funds, and expand the Tour’s appeal to new, younger, and more diverse audiences.

During Pelley’s leadership, the European Tour introduced initiatives such as the Rolex Series, DP World’s title partnership for the main Tour, the G4D Tour for Golfers with a Disability, and mixed events with the LET and LPGA. Eric Nicoli, Chairman of the European Tour group, commended Pelley as a transformative leader for global golf.

Pelley’s successor will be Guy Kinnings, the current European Tour Deputy CEO and Executive Director, who is set to assume the role on April 2. Kinnings expressed his pride in taking on the position and pledged to work closely with Pelley and the board for a seamless transition over the next three months.