New Penguins owners make first big executive hire

The Penguins have made their first significant executive hire since the Hoffman Family's acquisition of the team was approved in June.

The franchise announced Monday that Marcel Braithwaite has been named the Penguins' new president of business operations.

Braithwaite most recently served as SVP of business operations for the Houston Astros. The Astros credit him with overseeing multiple renovations of the club's ballpark while also leading the development of a spring training complex in Florida during his 14 years with the franchise.

He will now take that experience into guiding upcoming improvements to PPG Paints Arena, per Eddie Maisonet of Chron.com.

The arena last underwent major renovations ahead of the 2023-24 season. The transfer of its lease to the Hoffman Family was approved in March.

Braithwaite said he wanted PPG Paints to be a "a year-round crown jewel for the citizens of Pittsburgh," per Maisonet.

"They've got a ton of experience and certainly the motivation behind them, which I think is going to be really beneficial to the city of Pittsburgh from a tax base increase from a resurgence of downtown and the opportunity to bring more fans to come to the games and the other events that we host at PPG," Braithwaite said, per Maisonet.

The Hoffman family first talked about their intention to bring in a new president of business operations during their introductory press conference in June. New governor Geoff Hoffman said at the time his family wanted to be "present" but not "micromanage the team."

The role was previously held on an interim basis by Teddy Werner, who the franchise said last December would serve in that position until the sale of the team from the Fenway Sports Group had closed at a $1.7 billion valuation.

The Penguins are preparing to open training camp Thursday before kicking off the preseason next Monday, Sept. 21 against the visiting Buffalo Sabres .