Update (2:47 p.m.)—
**It’s official.
We are proud to announce the seventh Commissioner in the history of the Big Ten Conference, Tony Petitti 👏 #B1G
🔗 https://t.co/SOUId4VXAW pic.twitter.com/4yFlKW3fDk
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) April 12, 2023
Per a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, The Big Ten is expected to hire Tony Petitti, a former MLB and TV executive, to succeed Kevin Warren as conference commissioner.
Sources: The Big Ten is expected to hire former MLB and CBS Sports Executive Tony Petitti as the league's next commissioner.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 11, 2023
Petitti has worked in the sports and entertained industries for more than three decades. He spent 11 years with MLB.
He started with the league in 2008, helping launch the MLB Network. Petitti eventually rose to deputy commissioner for Business and Media, a job he held from 2017-19.
From there, he joined the United States Golf Association’s executive committee. Per the USGA’s website, he’s been serving on the organization’s Equipment Standards, Finance and Handicap Committees in 2023.
Before working with MLB, Petitti was a senior executive at ABC, CBS and NBC, supervising television deals for the NFL, NCAA Tournament, PGA Tour and SEC football. At CBS Sports, Petitti was an executive Vice President and executive producer, and was responsible for CBS’ sports programming and production.
If Petitti is the Big Ten’s next commissioner, he’ll be the seventh person to hold the role. The sixth person, Warren, left in January to become the Chicago Beats’ president. Petitti would be the third Big Ten commissioner since the end of 2019. Jim Delaney retired after 31 years, and Warren filled his shoes.
