LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA (Thursday, July 24, 2025) - The World Surf League (WSL) today announced the appointment of Nicole Metzger as Chief Revenue Officer. Metzger joins the WSL with more than two decades of commercial leadership experience across professional and collegiate sports where she has driven transformational revenue growth, high-impact brand partnerships, and innovative licensing strategies at some of the world's most recognized sports organizations. In this role, Metzger will oversee the WSL's global partnerships, licensing, and business development functions, while leading efforts to advance the league's commercial strategy. Additionally, she will lead the Partnership team to drive innovation through business development and partnership strategy.
Metzger most recently served as the Chief Sales and Partnerships Officer for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), driving revenue and overseeing partnership strategy. In her role, Metzger led the Partnership teams to cultivate innovative global partnerships across the LPGA, including securing breakthrough women's sports lifestyle collaborations that garnered national attention. Metzger is a commercial leader with experience in optimizing assets, scaling revenue, and modernizing sales structures to maximize performance. Metzger's ability to connect sports properties with global brands to drive revenue and generate purpose-led partnerships will have an instrumental role in the WSL's continued growth and success.
"Nicole brings significant experience and success in sports partnerships and revenue generation to the WSL," said Ryan Crosby, Chief Executive Officer. "She is joining us at a pivotal time, as we look to expand our global footprint through our commercial partnerships. Nicole's extensive background in driving partnerships through innovative approaches will no doubt progress our continued growth and future success."
"I am absolutely thrilled to join the WSL at such a dynamic moment for the league and the sport," said Nicole Metzger, Chief Revenue Officer. "Surfing is not just a sport-it's a global lifestyle with an incredibly passionate and engaged community. I see tremendous opportunity to create impactful, purpose-driven partnerships that connect brands to this culture in authentic, meaningful ways. I'm honored to help lead the WSL into its next phase of growth and global influence."
Metzger's diverse senior leadership positions include her role as Vice President, Partnerships, Activation, Analytics, and Special Events Miami Dolphins, where she co-led the negotiation of one of the largest NFL stadium naming rights deals for Hard Rock Stadium. During her time with the Charlotte Hornets as Vice President, Partnership Development, she secured the franchise's first-ever jersey patch sponsorship. She also worked for the NBA Team Marketing & Business Operations (TMBO), where she was hand-selected by Commissioner David Stern to support the Sacramento Kings' ownership transition and drive commercial strategies to fund a new arena. Prior to her role with the LPGA, she served as the Chief Revenue Officer at JMI Sports/Clemson University, where she expanded multimedia rights and launched the Clemson Campus Digital Network.