Wyc Grousbeck will no longer serve as governor of the Boston Celtics once the franchise’s $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm is finalized, according to ESPN.
Grousbeck is expected to remain as the team’s CEO and an alternate governor through 2028, but Chisholm — a managing partner at Symphony Technology Group — will assume the governor title. The NBA’s board of governors was informed of the change in recent days, and the sale is expected to close within the next week.
Change in Plan From March Agreement
When the deal was announced in March, the plan was for Grousbeck to stay on as governor and CEO for three more seasons before transitioning out of the role. At the time, he told ESPN that Chisholm had asked him to “run the team as CEO and Governor for the first three years” and remain a partner beyond that. Grousbeck called Chisholm a “terrific person and a true Celtics fan” when the agreement was reached.
Grousbeck’s family-led group bought the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million, and he has served as the team’s lead governor and CEO for most of his 23-year tenure. Under his leadership, Boston captured two NBA championships, in 2008 and 2024, while maintaining its status as the league’s most decorated franchise with 18 titles. Only the New York Yankees (27) and Montreal Canadiens (24) have won more championships among North American professional sports teams.
The change in leadership marks a significant shift for the Celtics, who are entering a transitional period both on and off the court. Boston made sweeping roster changes this offseason, breaking up much of its 2024 title-winning core. That, combined with the new ownership structure, has fueled uncertainty heading into the 2025–26 season.
A New Celtics Era Under Bill Chisholm
It is unclear whether Grousbeck’s departure from the governor role was his decision or a move initiated by Chisholm. Similar situations have unfolded in the NBA before, most notably when Mark Cuban sold a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks in 2023 and ceded his governor role shortly afterward. In many cases, new owners prefer to take full control of decision-making without the influence of prior leadership.
Bill Chisholm and his wife, Kimberly Ford Chisholm, have already begun taking a hands-on approach within the Boston community ahead of the sale’s completion. Chisholm’s investment group will become the Celtics’ controlling ownership partner once the transaction is finalized.
Grousbeck’s decision to sell his majority stake came just weeks after Boston defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. The $6.1 billion sale set a North American record for the purchase price of a sports franchise.
While he will no longer be the Celtics’ lead voice at the league level, Grousbeck will remain involved in the team’s operations over the next three years in his CEO role, providing continuity during one of the most significant ownership transitions in franchise history.
