The National Cycling League (NCL) hired experienced sports veteran Andrea Pagnanelli as chief executive officer.
“Andrea has been tremendous in building our vision for 2023 and has learned the business inside and out. Andrea’s extensive experience working at the intersection of business and sports makes her the right person to lead our company moving forward. I am incredibly excited to have her building this league with us and to steer the NCL into our next phase of growth.” said Paris Wallace, president and co-founder of the NCL.
Pagnanelli has over 15 years of experience in the sports industry, holding executive roles in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NWSL, and relevant sports. She was named to Forbes’ 30 under 30, honored as a “Woman of Influence” by the New York Business Journal, and graduated from Brown University as a D-1 soccer player.
She started her career with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns before accepting a front-office position with the NFL’s New York Jets. She then joined RSE Ventures and started her company, LeapSeats, and built the commercial side of the International Champions Cup (ICC). Pagnanelli held additional roles, including EVP at LAFC, COO at Thuzio, and, most recently, chief business officer at Gotham FC.
“The National Cycling League is setting a new standard for inclusivity in professional sports by championing diversity. I was drawn to the opportunity to impact and transform communities through our mission,” said Andrea Pagnanelli. “With more than 50 million cyclists in the U.S., we have an opportunity to grow the passion and excitement for the sport of cycling among the next generation of fans.”
