Keith Pelley: DP World Tour confirms exit

The DP World Tour has confirmed that Chief Executive Keith Pelley will leave the European Tour group after eight-and-a-half years. 

The Canadian will join Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd (MLSE) in his native Toronto. 

Pelley became only the fourth Chief Executive since the European Tour’s formation in 1972 when he joined in 2015 from his previous position as President of Rogers Media. 

The 60-year-old has overseen a transformative period of significant evolution, innovation and growth across the European Tour group. 

Guy Kinnings, the current Deputy CEO and Executive Director – Ryder Cup, will become the European Tour group’s new Chief Executive effective Tuesday April 2, 2024.  

Pelley said: “It has been an incredible honour to be the Chief Executive of this wonderful institution for the past eight and a half years.

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“When I came over from Canada back in 2015, I set out to create a culture of innovation and to grow our prize funds and our Tour for our members by ensuring that we appealed to new, younger and more diverse audiences.
 
“We have done that and so much more because our players, staff, partners, broadcasters and fans have all fundamentally bought into that philosophy that we are in the entertainment industry. I would therefore like to thank everyone for their support and commitment to innovation and evolution in our sport.  

“This role with MLSE, and the chance to be involved with my hometown sports teams in Toronto, was the one opportunity that I simply could not resist. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do at some point in my career and I’m very grateful to be given that chance.
 
“Similarly, I’m eternally grateful for the incredible experiences my family and I have had with the Tour over the last eight and a half years.  

“I am also fortunate to be able to pass the baton on to someone immensely experienced and respected in Guy who I have no doubt will ensure the Tour continues to prosper for many years to come.” 

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Under Pelley’s leadership, the DP World Tour introduced the Rolex Series, the G4D Tour, mixed events with the LET and LPGA, and staged the two most successful Ryder Cups to be played on European soil, in Paris in 2018 and Rome in 2023.

The departure to MLSE, whose brands include ice hockey team Toronto Maples Leafs, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC of the MLS, and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, comes fresh on the heels of Martin Slumbers decision to stand down from the R&A.

And Pelley’s departure comes at a critical time in the ‘framework agreement’ negotiations intended to merge the commercial operations of the DP World Tour with the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

Kinnings, who will take over from Pelley, has built a wealth of experience across all aspects of golf.

He said: “It has been a privilege to work closely with Keith since I joined the Tour in 2018. He set out to transform the European Tour group, and unquestionably he has done that.

“It will be a huge honour to take on this role in April and I am immensely proud to have been given this responsibility. I will continue to work closely with Keith, Eric and the Board over the next three months to ensure a seamless transition

“I look forward to working with our players, staff and partners in the game, as well as our very impressive Executive Leadership and Senior Management Teams, to continue to build upon everything our Tour has achieved in recent years.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.