Sam Garvin

Sam Garvin (born 1964) is an American business executive and administrator who is the current CEO of the Garvin Promotion Group[1] and former alternate and incumbent governor of the Phoenix Suns from September 15, 2022 until February 7, 2023, replacing Robert Sarver for what was intended to be the entire 2022-23 NBA season until the sale of the Suns to Mat Ishbia and Justin Ishbia on February 7, 2023 became official.[2][3]

Sam Garvin
Born1964 (age 58–59)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alma materUniversity of Pittsburgh
OccupationBusinessman
Known forCo-owner of Phoenix Suns

Biography

Early life and education

Sam Garvin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[4] He was educated at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and German studies.[4][5] Later, he studied at the Thunderbird School and graduated in 1988.[5][6]

Career

During Ronald Reagan's administration, Garvin worked as a staff assistant in the White House.[5]

In 2004, Garvin gave $60 million to Thunderbird School of Global Management as a donation, and later, the school was renamed after him from 2004 until 2007 as Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management.[7][8] He also acquired a stake in the Phoenix Suns NBA organization during the same year.[2] From 2007 until 2022, he's also served as an alternate governor of the team.[3] Additionally, between 2004 and 2010, he was a member of Suns Chariites Board.[9][10]

On September 15, 2022, it was announced that Garvin would become the interim team governor of the Phoenix Suns, replacing Robert Sarver's position there for the majority of the 2022–23 NBA season.[2] Previously, he has served as the vice-chairman of the Phoenix Suns.[11][12] His first major move as acting team governor was promoting James Jones from general manager to President of Basketball Operations on November 20, 2022.[13] He then approved of point guard Saben Lee (previously a part of the Suns' preseason team in that same season) signing multiple 10-day contracts on January 11 & 21, 2023,[14][15] before signing him to a two-way contract and waiving Duane Washington Jr. on February 1, 2023.[16] In what became his final announcement as interim team governor, Garvin announced via e-mail that Suns team president and CEO Jason Rowley (who was with the team's front office since 2007 and held his positions in question since 2012, as well as previously held the general manager position for the Phoenix Mercury) resigned from his position with the team on February 6, 2023.[17]

On February 7, 2023, the ownership of Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury franchises were transferred to a group led by Mat Ishbia and his older brother Justin Ishbia,[18][19][20] with the minority ownership maintained by Sam Garvin.[21] He is also the current Vice Chairman and NBA Alternate Governor of the Phoenix Suns.[21]

Recognition

References
  1. "Meet the promotion experts that make it happen".
  2. "Sources: Garvin OK'd to act as Suns' interim gov". ESPN. September 15, 2022.
  3. Scott, Dana. "Phoenix Suns select Sam Garvin as team's interim governor during Robert Sarver suspension". The Arizona Republic.
  4. "Sam Garvin Bio". NBA.
  5. "FORTY UNDER 40 AWARDS: Samuel Garvin - ProQuest". www.proquest.com.
  6. "Thunderbird School of Global Management grads look to franchise". Phoenix Business Journal.
  7. "'You give until it feels good'". Financial Times. July 21, 2006.
  8. "A dash of Spanish verve in Arizona". Financial Times. January 24, 2005.
  9. "Jonah Shacknai launches foundation in honor of late son Max".
  10. "FOOTPRINT STEPS UP".
  11. "NBA All-Star game announcement expected to confirm Phoenix location".
  12. Coro, Paul. "Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver applies lessons learned over 10 years". The Arizona Republic.
  13. "SUNS PROMOTE JAMES JONES TO PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS AND GENERAL MANAGER". www.nba.com.
  14. "OFFICIAL: Phoenix Suns sign Saben Lee to a 10-day contract". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  15. "Suns Sign Saben Lee To Second 10-Day Contract". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  16. "Duane Rankin on Twitter: "#Suns re-sign Saben Lee to two-way, waive Duane Washington Jr., who was on a two-way deal."". Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  17. "Suns president, CEO Rowley resigns, sources say". ESPN.com. February 6, 2023.
  18. "Ishbia agrees to Suns purchase for record $4B". ESPN.com. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  19. "Sources: Mat Ishbia's purchase of Suns, Mercury to be official soon". espn.com. 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  20. Sports, Arizona (February 7, 2023). "Mat Ishbia's purchase of Phoenix Suns approved by NBA vote". Arizona Sports.
  21. "Official: Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia new majority owner of Phoenix Suns". The Arizona Republic.
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