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HDFC CFO Nicolas Somano Joins Pro Sports Assembly Governing Board

2023 PRO Board

Pro Sports Assembly (PRO), the association for professional sports business leaders, has announced it has added five Governing Board members, who will each help guide the organization through 2025.

Cleveland Browns (NFL) Senior Vice President of Communications Peter John-Baptiste, Major League Soccer (MLS) Senior Vice President of Player & League Development Dr. Jamil Northcutt, Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alexis Roe, Minnesota Twins (MLB) Senior Vice President of Human Resources Leticia Silva and Chief Financial Officer of Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) and the Dash (NWSL) Nicolas Somoano all join PRO’s Governing Board with the goal of ensuring the professional sports industry has a strong, healthy and fair future.

John-Baptiste is in his 26th season in the National Football League and ninth with the Cleveland Browns and the Haslam Sports Group (HSG). Prior to joining the Browns, he spent 17 years with the New York Giants, where he served as the vice president of communications from 2011-14.

Northcutt, who oversees MLS’s development of best practices and strategy for players, also serves as a liaison to the MLSPA. Before joining the MLS, he held numerous roles in professional and college sports, including the NCAA, NFL, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Southeastern Conference, and at the University of Mississippi where he was the Chucky Mullins award winner and played four seasons of football.

As Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Atlanta Hawks, Roe assists in the strategic growth and integration of the Hawks and State Farm Arena’s DEI practices. Roe’s efforts focus on programming that enriches the organization’s culture and supports employee engagement. Roe currently serves on the Leadership Council for The Posse Foundation.

Silva is entering her 26th season with the Minnesota Twins and her third as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. She began her career with the franchise as an intern in 1998 and joined the club’s Finance/Human Resources department that same year.

Somoano, serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Houston Dynamo FC, the Houston Dash and Shell Energy Stadium. Prior to joining the Dynamo, he spent 13 years working in the finance department of the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets.

Pro Sports Assembly unites leaders across sport, geography and discipline. Over 30 organizations have become members since 2020 - elevating the collective impact of pro sports leadership for the good of the industry in new and powerful ways. From finance to innovation, operations and sales to social responsibility, marketing, human resources and analytics, PRO aims to ensure there is a diverse and talented pipeline to lead the industry into the future.

“We couldn’t be happier with the addition of the talents and experience of each of these new Governing Board members,” said Marina Carpenter, PRO Board Secretary and SVP, Public Affairs and General Counsel at the Arizona Coyotes. “We cannot wait for what is to come for our members under the direction of such an accomplished group of industry leaders.”