Buffalo Bills Announce Leadership Shake-Up: Ron Raccuia Out as Top Executive
In a surprising move, the Buffalo Bills have announced a leadership shake-up with the departure of Ron Raccuia, the team’s top executive. Team owner Terry Pegula made the announcement on Wednesday, citing the need to “revamp and improve our structure” after a thorough evaluation of the team’s business side.
Raccuia, who played a lead role in negotiating Buffalo’s new $1.54 billion stadium deal, had been with Pegula Sports and Entertainment since 2017. He took over as the point person on stadium negotiations when Kim Pegula, Terry Pegula’s wife and the previous team president, fell ill.
The change in leadership sees Terry Pegula himself taking over the role of team president. Kim Pegula had been away from the team for the past 13 months due to significant language and memory issues after experiencing cardiac arrest.
John Roth, who has been serving as the COO of the Pegula-owned Buffalo Sabres since January, will assume Raccuia’s titles as executive vice president and COO. Roth will now split his duties between the Bills and the Sabres.
The departure of Raccuia comes just six weeks after he joined Terry Pegula and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Bills’ new stadium. The stadium, which is being built across the street from the team’s current home, is set to open in time for the 2026 season and includes $850 million in public funding.
While it remains unclear what specific changes Pegula plans to make to the team’s business structure, it is worth noting that the Bills have experienced success and increased popularity in recent years. They have won three consecutive AFC East titles and have become a fan favorite.
As part of the transition to the new stadium, the Bills have partnered with Legends, a company co-owned by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the New York Yankees, to oversee seat-ticketing licenses and provide food and beverage services. This partnership marks the end of the Bills’ long-standing relationship with Buffalo-based Delaware North.
In addition to Roth’s promotion, the Bills also announced other changes within their leadership team. Kathryn D’Angelo, the team’s general counsel, has been named senior vice president of business administration. Josh Dziurlikowski, the vice president of finance, will now hold the title of senior VP of finance and business administration. The team has also hired Penny Semaia, the University of Pittsburgh’s senior associate athletic director, as the VP of stadium relations.
Terry Pegula expressed his confidence in the new management committee, stating, “I have had a high level of trust and a strong working relationship with John, Kathryn, and Josh over the years, and expect them each to successfully continue to lead our business operations in the years to come.”
The Buffalo Bills’ leadership shake-up comes at a pivotal time for the team as they prepare to move into their new stadium. With a renewed focus on improving the team’s structure and operations, fans can expect exciting changes ahead as the Bills continue their quest for success on and off the field.