Puttshack named Susan Burke as general counsel and chief risk officer and Rocio DeJesus as head of people and talent. These roles expand Puttshack’s senior leadership team while providing legal oversight in future contract negotiations and to react “swiftly” to resource needs.
Burke and DeJesus will work from Puttshack’s Chicago headquarters and report to CEO Joe Vrankin.
Since opening its first location in 2018, Puttshack has opened four London venues and eight in the U.S. in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Denver, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.
“Last year’s growth investment by BlackRock afforded us the opportunity to search the marketplace and go after top talent in their respective fields who will be able to make an immediate impact in helping Puttshack achieve our aggressive growth,” said Vrankin. “I am incredibly excited to further strengthen our U.S. executive leadership team with the appointments of both Susan and Rocio.
Before joining Puttshack, Burke spent more than 20 years as a partner at the Chicago-based law firm of Pedersen & Houpt. Burke will provide strategy and insight around various legal matters in her new role at Puttshack, including working with departments and venues and outside law firms and vendors.
Throughout her 20-year career, DeJesus has worked as a strategic business partner focused on developing and supporting talent/people initiatives. Before Puttshack, DeJesus led the Talent Acquisition department at Martin-Brower and was integral in supporting recruitment efforts across departments, including corporate and field. DeJesus will lead Puttshack’s HR efforts and build strategies to equip the company to support expansion and lead all HR, including designing and implementing people strategies and solutions.
