As Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco 49ers, Jed York oversees all aspects of the organization. York is in his third year in the position and has made bold decisions to return the team to its winning tradition and ultimately the Super Bowl. York recognizes and shares the ongoing passion of the team’s faithful fans.
York has been the driving force behind the team’s work to begin construction on a new stadium for the 49ers. In 2011, his leadership produced what some are calling extraordinary results to get “shovels in the ground” for the new stadium in Santa Clara. The 49ers have not only secured all the necessary approvals to begin construction of the new venue in early 2012, the team also has an $850 million construction loan and $200 million in NFL support with all financing in place. The team plans to build a stadium that will quickly be recognized as the world’s premium outdoor sports and entertainment venue.
2011 was a very good year for York’s 49ers. His promotion of Trent Baalke to General Manager and the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as Head Coach provided instant results. Both Harbaugh and Baalke were named Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year respectively, the highest honor they can receive in their respective positions. The team also made it to the playoffs for the first time in nine years advancing to the NFC Conference Championship and an impressive 14-4 record.
RECOGNIZING THE 49ERS FAITHFUL
A 49ers fan since birth, York recognizes that the success of the 49ers hinges on the team’s faithful fans, and he is committed to honoring them for their passion and enthusiasm. One of his most popular moves was to direct the organization to create new uniforms for the 49ers that connect the team’s future aspirations to its championship glory years of the 1980s and 1990s. He also created the ticket sales and services department to give each season ticket holder a personal representative and point of contact within the organization. To give fans a forum to interact directly with the team’s leaders, he instituted a public “State of the Franchise” meeting for season ticket holders, where they have an opportunity to listen to the team’s plans for the future and ask questions of the 49ers management team.
Under York’s leadership, the team established the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame in 2009, to commemorate the significant accomplishments of some of the team’s biggest stars and key contributors. Named for his grandfather and the beloved patriarch of the 49ers, the Hall of Fame automatically inducted those 49ers greats that had either had their jersey numbers retired by the team or have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. York, shortly thereafter, announced the Hall of Fame’s inaugural inductee, his uncle, Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., who was enshrined during the 2009 season.
CARRYING ON THE FAMILY’S LEGACY
York’s roots with the 49ers run deep. He is the oldest child of Denise and John York, the co-chairmen of the team. York’s uncle and godfather, Eddie DeBartolo, also known to fans as “Mr.D”, has long served as a mentor.
York began his career as a financial analyst at Guggenheim Partners, a diversified financial services firm. He worked in the firm’s New York office in several areas, including private wealth management, hedge funds risk analysis, and collateralized debt obligations.
Born and raised in Youngstown, OH, York was a student athlete at Cardinal Mooney High School where he was captain of the baseball team as well student body president. After high school, York decided to carry on a family tradition by attending the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a degree in both finance and history. York was a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society.
York credits his parents, his uncle Eddie, and his grandfather Edward DeBartolo Sr. as being positive role models and for teaching him character values such as integrity, a strong work ethic, and respect for others. He is pleased to carry on his family’s commitment to community by serving as a board member at Tipping Point Community, the Common Wealth Club, Bay Area Council, and Silicon Valley Leadership Group. In 2011 & 2012, York served as the Co-Chair of the Second Harvest Food Bank’s Annual Holiday Food and Fund Drive, which services Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Besides his tremendous passion for the 49ers, York enjoys traveling, fishing, and playing cards, which he learned from his grandfather.
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