The changes keep coming for the Chicago Fire, this time in the front office.
Longtime Chicago media veteran Julian Posada was named the president of the organization on Thursday, ending the team’s search for a new top executive after former president Dave Greeley officially stepped down on Aug. 31.
Posada is no stranger to the Second City. He joins the Fire after serving as the founder and president of Café Media, a multimedia company targeting second- and third-generation Hispanics through a combination of print, event, electronic and web platforms in Chicago and other cities.
"I've been very fortunate to have experienced many exciting opportunities and challenges throughout my career," Posada said in a statement. "As a soccer fan and as an entrepreneur, joining the Fire was an opportunity that I simply couldn't pass up.
There is so much opportunity to grow the Fire in the Chicago market, given the high level of play and the passionate fan base. I'm especially grateful to [Fire owner Andrew Hauptman] for the faith he has extended to me, and I am committed to not letting him or the Fire down."
Posada also has served as the general manager for Hoy, the Tribune Co.-owned outlet which serves as the only Spanish daily newspaper in Chicago. Posada was responsible for the day-to-day activities of Hoy Chicago including editorial, sales, finance, marketing, circulation and production, and was also part of the team that launched Hoy Los Angeles.
"Julian is a very dynamic, energetic and savvy business leader who has a passion for Chicago and an ambitious drive for achieving successful business growth," said Javier Leon, the Fire's interim president and the managing director of Andell Sports Group. "He also has a deep understanding of both the Chicago market and entrepreneurial knowledge and spirit.”
Posada’s hiring continues a year of change for the Fire, who welcomed Designated Players Nery Castillo and Freddie Ljungberg onto the field this summer and head coach Carlos de los Cobos in January.
The Fire are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, and seven points behind the Seattle Sounders for the last playoff berth. They continue their hunt for the playoffs at Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
