NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced today that Toronto Raptors Governor Larry Tanenbaum has been unanimously elected Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.

Tanenbaum, the longtime Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), becomes the first Canadian owner to serve as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.  He succeeds Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who has been Chairman since April 2014.

“Glen Taylor was a terrific chairman who has a deep commitment to growing our game,” said Silver.  “Like Glen, Larry Tanenbaum prioritizes the league’s collective interest and is well respected by his fellow owners.  Throughout his nearly two decades as Raptors Governor, Larry has been an active and engaged NBA Board member.  I am grateful for Glen’s dedicated service and look forward to working with Larry as Chairman.”

“It is a great honor to have been elected as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors, for both myself and the Toronto Raptors franchise,” said Tanenbaum.  “I look forward to working closely with Commissioner Silver, the league office and my fellow owners in this capacity to grow the game around the world and continually look for opportunities to better this great league for our teams, our players and our fans.”

Taylor, the Timberwolves’ majority owner since 1994, is completing his second stint as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.  He also held the position from 2008-12.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to have served as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors,” said Taylor.  “The Board has a wonderful spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that I know Larry Tanenbaum will continue to promote.  I wish Larry great success as Chairman and look forward to continuing my work on the Board.”

Tanenbaum has long been an active member of the NBA Board of Governors.  The Toronto native has served on the NBA Advisory/Finance Committee since 2008 and was part of the Planning Committee from 2000-14.  He also had stints on several other committees, including Labor Relations and Expansion/Realignment.

One of North America’s most influential sports figures, Tanenbaum has been Governor of the Raptors since 1998 and holds the same title with the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs and Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC.  Tanenbaum has seen the Raptors have their four winningest seasons in the last four years, including a franchise-record 56 victories in 2015-16.

In 1996, Tanenbaum acquired an interest in the Maple Leafs and the company now known as MLSE.  Two years later, he played an instrumental role in the company’s purchase of the Raptors and Air Canada Centre, which he has helped build into one of the world’s leading sports and entertainment venues.  Tanenbaum became MLSE’s Chairman in 2003.

In addition to his work as a sports executive, Tanenbaum is the Chairman and CEO of Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited, a private investment holding company.  He also oversees Kilmer Capital Partners, a private equity fund.

Tanenbaum is involved in numerous charitable and health care organizations, including the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, and the global children’s organization Right to Play.  In 2007, he was appointed to the prestigious Order of Canada for his dedication to the community and achievement in business.