LIV Golf announced the appointment two key hires – John Ruzich as the League’s new Chief Legal Officer and Denise Taylor as Head of Product & Technology.
Ruzich will oversee all legal functions across the LIV Golf League and its 13 teams, including international operations and events, while Taylor will lead the League’s department for global technology solutions and products. Both industry veterans will be based in New York and officially begin this month.
“Welcoming John and Denise to our leadership team is another big step for our League as we continually enhance our operations and scale our business,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “Their deep expertise, honed through leadership roles at premiere sports organizations, makes them invaluable additions. I am confident that their strategic vision and commitment to excellence will not only strengthen our legal and technology departments but also propel us to new heights in 2025 and beyond.”
Ruzich joins LIV Golf after serving as Chief Administration Officer and Chief Legal Officer at Legends, one of the world’s premiere live events companies. For the past 12 years at Legends, Ruzich oversaw all legal, business affairs, human resources, risk management and administrative matters for the company. Prior to joining Legends, he served as the Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs and General Counsel for Classic Media, one of the world’s largest private owners of branded kids’ and family entertainment properties, before it was purchased by DreamWorks Animation. Ruzich began his legal career with roles at the WWE and the New Jersey Devils.
“I’m thrilled to join LIV Golf at such a pivotal time as the League continues to expand and enhance the sport across the globe,” said Ruzich. “It’s been impressive to watch LIV Golf forge a new path within the professional game in such a short amount of time, and it’s clear that the League has ambitious and exciting plans as it builds for the long term. I look forward to collaborating with LIV’s talented team and can’t wait to get started.”
Taylor brings to LIV Golf a wealth of experience across several sectors, specializing in sports, live events, and large-scale, technology-driven projects. Her career spans executive roles at major organizations including AEG, Westfield, Legends, and Tottenham Hotspur FC, where she consistently led the transformation of business operations through technology and digital innovation.
At Legends, Taylor served as the President of Global Technology Solutions where she launched a new division focused on implementing new technologies, digital, data and analytics into stadiums globally. While serving as Chief Information and Technology Officer at AEG, Taylor launched AEG-IT, a consulting arm focused on designing and operating state-of-the-art stadiums and venues, working with clients including the NFL, NBA, FIFA, and Coachella.
“LIV Golf is clearly committed to thinking outside the box by using technology and innovation to build a product that connects with new audiences, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of that,” said Taylor. “Through the League, its teams, players, and products, the opportunities across the organization are endless. I’m eager to support the League’s continued growth across the globe.”
The additions of Ruzich and Taylor are the latest announcements to the League’s bolstered executive leadership team. Within the past six months, LIV Golf has added Ilana Finley as Chief Communications Officer, Adam Harter as Chief Marketing Officer, David Phillipps as Chief Financial Officer, Katie O’Reilly as Executive Vice President, Head of Team Business Operations, Ross Hallett as Executive Vice President, Head of Events, Pam Sacree as Head of People and Culture, and appointed Tim Taylor as Executive Vice President and Head of the League’s London office.
The LIV Golf League’s third official full season tees off in February next year.