NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that Kyle J. Cavanaugh, Vice President for Administration at Duke University, has been named NBA President, Administration.  Cavanaugh, who announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from his position at Duke, will replace current President, Administration Bob Criqui.  Criqui will retire later this year after 39 years at the NBA and remain on as a consultant during the transition.

In his new role, Cavanaugh will oversee the global facilities, information technology, security, risk management, people and inclusion, and administrative affairs of the league and its related entities.  He will join the NBA on June 1 and report to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Cavanaugh has more than 30 years of experience in administration and human resources, including the past 13 years at Duke.  As Vice President for Administration at Duke, he was responsible for human resources and benefits, labor and employee relations, executive compensation, international employment, security and police, emergency management, and other administrative functions for a workforce of 43,000 and student population of 15,000.  He was instrumental in the creation of Duke’s affiliated campus in China and supported numerous global activities.  In February 2020, Cavanaugh was appointed by the university president to lead Duke’s COVID-19 management strategy.

Prior to Duke, Cavanaugh served as Senior Vice President for Administration at the University of Florida, where he oversaw a range of business, financial and operational activities.  He previously held senior administrative positions at the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University and Vanderbilt University and Medical Center.

“Kyle is a highly respected leader with decades of operational experience and an outstanding track record of creating best-in-class workplaces,” said Silver.  “His vast background and broad management skills are a perfect fit for our league.”

“I am thrilled to have been invited to join the leadership team at the NBA and look forward to serving the various constituents of the league and its related entities,” said Cavanaugh.  “Having had the chance to learn more about the organization over the past two months, I could not be more impressed with the assembled talent and I am excited about the opportunity.”

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Cavanaugh has been active in the Durham community sitting on a number of not-for-profit organizations that focus on early child literacy and employment.  He holds an M.B.A. from Belmont University and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt and the University of Illinois, Chicago.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., where he earned a basketball scholarship.

Criqui joined the NBA in 1983 as controller, became Vice President in 1989, Senior Vice President in 1997, Executive Vice President in 2004, and President, Administration in 2010.  During his tenure, he oversaw the creation and implementation of several important resources to engage, support and develop the league’s global workforce.  He administered key leaguewide team programs, including benefit and pension plans, the team air charter program, and leaguewide insurance programs.  Criqui also served as a director of NBA China.  He first became associated with the NBA when the league was a client of his at the accounting firm of Ernst & Young in New York, where he worked for seven years.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for Bob’s commitment to the NBA over his distinguished career,” said Silver.  “He played a vital role in every aspect of the growth of our league over the past four decades and has been a trusted colleague to so many of us across the NBA family.”