Kraken Name New Chairperson of Executive Committee

Like many followers of the NHL's 32nd franchise, Sam Holloway says "the people in my family wear Kraken gear 90 percent of the time, both because they are proud of it and because they love the gear."
Wednesday's announcement that Holloway is the newly-named chairperson of the Executive Committee for Seattle Hockey Partners, is one more significant reason for the choice of gear.

Holloway, daughter of majority owner, David Bonderman, will lead a committee that includes Vice Chair David Wright, Andy Jassy, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chris Ackerley, Jay Deutsch, Adrian Hanauer, Mitch Garber, Len Potter and Maria Eitel. The impressive group provides strategic oversight to the work of Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke, newly appointed Team President and still COO, Victor de Bonis, General Manager Ron Francis and the entire Kraken hockey operations and business staff.
Bonderman remains fully engaged with the Kraken as founder, majority owner and NHL governor. Asking Holloway to step into the chairperson position is a natural step for the family who shares the team's values and vision.
"Launching the Seattle Kraken has been one of the most enjoyable projects of my career," said Bonderman, founder of TPG Capital and graduate of the University of Washington. "We are building something unique for the community driven through great partnership from our investors, partners and fans. I am thrilled my daughter Sam shares my passion and commitment."
"The ownership group, led by my father and Tim and Tod Leiweke have achieved a phenomenal amount over the last four years," said Holloway during a conversation Wednesday morning. "The fan base has shown their passion and commitment. The organization is rooted in the community. I am looking forward to joining them on this journey."
There will be no change to the day-to-day operations led by Tod Leiweke, de Bonis and Francis.
"They are truly the best in business, we couldn't have better folks," said Holloway. "They know exactly what to do. They have a plan in place and the integrity to execute it. It's so important to have the character. You can't manufacture character."
Holloway was clear about how much she believes in Ron Francis' approach to establishing a franchise with long-term success.
"Do we wish we had won more games?" she said. "Sure. I think Ron is building the foundation the right way, with players from the expansion draft who will be our core group of players, such as Jared McCann, plus great draft picks and the ability to spend to the salary cap."
Holloway has attended a number of Kraken games, watches all others on television and is wholly energized by the Pacific Northwest fan base.
"It's easy to be a fan when things are going great," said Holloway. "We have fans with grit who want winning hockey to be here to stay. There are lot of reasons to be excited for the future. We are committed to long-term success."
Holloway said it is important to realize "the incredible things that have already been done here" in building a brand-new, state of the art, carbon-neutral Climate Pledge Arena and opening the Kraken Community Iceplex and "the unbelievable programming for the community." She is equally enthusiastic about One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the team and arena "that exemplifies the values and vision of the organizations."
Holloway recalls a conversation at a family home in Aspen a few years back in which her father talked about the dream of owning a hockey team was coming true and how delighted he was about doing it in Seattle. Her young children (now ages 4 and 6), younger siblings and Minnesota-born husband were in the living room too.
"He was talking about the future of the Kraken to all of us," said Holloway. "I've always been excited for my dad, more from afar as I was deep in the startup world and building my business. I went to sports events with him all the time as a kid and know owning a hockey team has been a dream."
Over the last couple years, daughter and dad have talked increasingly and more purposefully about her passion for the sport and interest in helping the franchise become a winner on and off the ice. She and two co-founders operated a successful enterprise software firm for a decade before exiting through a sale.
Holloway is currently co-founder and managing partner of Hat Labs, a startup studio based in Denver that develops software products. She serves as co-Founder and managing partner for 2nd & Fillmore, a boutique private investment company. Holloway attended the University of Michigan before receiving an MBA from the University of Denver.
Her experience with building the business, continuing to work with early startups and "learning a ton about stakeholder management" makes her a highly qualified leader to blend the qualitative and quantitative aspects of today's NHL franchises.
"I've been a sports fan my whole life," said Holloway. "I played basketball and softball. I attended [Washington] Caps games with friends. I got even more into hockey later in life. My husband is from Minnesota and a big hockey fan. My son says he wants to coach the Kraken someday; he also wants to own a reptile zoo, so it could go either way."
Whether kids or adults, Holloway sees the pathway for Kraken fans to grow with the team's desired successful seasons ahead.
"It's certainly a sport that when you see it live, you fall in love with it," said Holloway. "There more you get into it, the more you love it."