NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 9, 2025) – Nashville Soccer Club announced today the promotion of current Chief Operating Officer Lindsey Paola to the position of Chief Business Officer as Ian Ayre transitions into the organization’s Vice Chairman. Lindsey and Ayre assumed their new roles on Jan. 1, with both reporting directly to Majority Owner and Chairman John Ingram.
"Ian’s transition ensures that he will continue to play an integral role with the club while recognizing what Lindsey means to the club as well,” said Ingram. “Lindsey is more than deserving and I know that our future is bright with her proven leadership and approach to culture at Nashville SC."
As Vice Chairman, Ayre will serve as an advisor to Ingram, Lindsey, and General Manager Mike Jacobs. As part of his ongoing responsibilities, Ayre will maintain oversight of the club’s annual budgets, and lead special projects as determined by the club’s Chairman, including team investments and fundraising/capital raises. The former Nashville SC and Liverpool FC CEO will continue to supervise soccer operations and player personnel, as he will also represent the club at both Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT Pro Board of Governors meetings.
“Since first meeting John in 2018, I could see that his vision and commitment to building a Major League Soccer Club was unwavering,” added Ayre. “It has been my absolute pleasure to lead the building of the club over the last seven years, but more importantly assembling an outstanding team of people who make the club so special and deliver so much of the hard work.”
As Chief Business Officer, Lindsey joins an elite group of female executives acting in such capacity across MLS clubs (List included in the media resources). In this new role, Lindsey will continue to drive culture for the organization as she oversees the day-to-day business operations for Nashville SC and Huntsville City FC, the club’s MLS NEXT Pro club. In a pivotal time for soccer in North America, Lindsey will also lead the strategic development and growth of the club as the region welcomes the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™ and the 2026 FIFA World Cup to our city and country.
“I am excited and honored to step into the role of Chief Business Officer at Nashville SC, where I will continue to focus on nurturing our culture and championing our people while driving our shared goals and vision,” said Lindsey. “The next few years are pivotal for our club and soccer in our region as we welcome the FIFA Club World Cup to GEODIS Park in 2025 and expand our offerings with more concerts and major events. Having the right pieces and infrastructure is crucial, and I am inspired by the dedication, talent and collaboration of our team. Most importantly, I am very grateful to John and Ian for their trust in me. Having worked closely with Ian for the past seven years, I look forward to expanding our partnership in this new structure, drawing on his extensive experience to develop our strategies and enhance our success.”
For more information regarding Nashville SC, visit www.NashvilleSC.com.
