WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The USA Gymnastics Board of Directors announced the decision to appoint Kerry Perry as the organization's new president and chief executive officer on Tuesday.
Perry assumes this role on Dec. 1 and will be based at the USA Gymnastics headquarters in Indianapolis.
Perry was formerly vice president of business development at Learfield Communications, and president and owner of KP Sports, which was acquired by Learfield. In her various leadership roles, Perry has led many high-performing teams and organizations to great success, most recently in the collegiate sports field.
She replaces Steve Penny, who resigned in March after 12 years on the job following criticism over the way USA Gymnastics handled sexual abuse claims.
USA Gymnastics has been rocked by accusations of sexual misconduct against Larry Nassar, the former national team doctor from 1996-2015. Nassar is in jail in Michigan awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
He's also awaiting trial on separate criminal sexual conduct charges and has been sued by more than 125 women alleging abuse.
"We are fortunate to have someone as capable and energetic as Kerry step into this leadership role," said Paul Parilla, chairman of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors.
"Her passion for the sport, commitment to athlete safety, and track record of motivating teams to succeed will help guide our vision for the future."
As CEO of USA Gymnastics, Perry will be responsible for the strategic direction of the organization involving the day-to-day operations of the business to include safety initiatives, athlete and competitive programs, membership, staffing, marketing, event operations, communications and revenue generation.
She will also serve as a representative of USA Gymnastics to the United States Olympic Committee, the International Gymnastics Federation and all other affiliated organizations.
"I am thrilled to join USA Gymnastics and I look forward to creating a culture of empowerment that encourages our athletes, our members, our families and our staff to have a strong voice as we move this incredible organization to heightened levels of achievement," said Perry.
"As a lifelong fan of the sport, I will be relentless in our pursuit of athlete safety, collaborative with our board, constituents and corporate partners, and supportive of our members, parents and staff on our journey to making USA Gymnastics the pinnacle of success."
