On December 3, 2024, Kristi Coleman was named the Chief Executive Officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE). In her role, Coleman oversees all business operations for TSE including the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Football Club and Bank of America Stadium. She also serves as President of the Carolina Panthers.
A true trailblazer across professional sports, Coleman was named the President of the Carolina Panthers in February 2022, becoming only the second-ever female president in NFL history. As president, Coleman is responsible for navigating the dynamic challenges of operating in a multibillion-dollar industry – from fostering relationships with league officials, partners and stakeholders, to spearheading innovative business opportunities and enhancing fan engagement, to overseeing all aspects of the team's business initiatives and developments while also working closely with football operations to ensure proper alignment of organizational priorities, policies and implementations.
Coleman originally joined the Panthers in 2014, and in her decade with the organization, she had risen from Controller to Director of Finance, to Vice President and CFO and finally to team President – a testament to her work ethic, proactive mentality and comprehensive skill set. As CFO, Coleman oversaw the financial functions for all of TSE, ranging from budgeting and financial reporting to auditing and risk management. Coleman operated as the leader of multiple departments, including finance, business strategy and analytics and human resources. She also played a crucial role as the point person across all NFL and Collective Bargaining Agreement financial reporting. As Director of Finance, Coleman was a major contributor to the due diligence process for the purchase of the Panthers by Tepper Sports & Entertainment TSE, which, at the time, was the largest sale in NFL history.
Recently, Coleman represented the Panthers as the leader of the stadium renovation project, ultimately securing the Charlotte City Council's vote for a joint $800 million renovation plan that will tie the Panthers to the city for the next 20 years. Coleman also negotiated the extension of the stadium's naming rights deal with long-time partner, Bank of America and spearheaded the Panthers' new indoor practice facility project set to open in 2026.
Coleman's impact also extends overseas, with the Panthers traveling to Germany for a game against the New York Giants in 2024. Under Coleman's watch, this was the first time in franchise history that the team played a game in Germany, with the matchup representing the culmination of years of strategic overseas relationship building to expand the Panthers' influence internationally.
Coleman also has a passion for community outreach extending the Panthers impact beyond football. With her support, the Panthers have focused on the growth of girls flag football. Over the span of three years, the Panthers have helped grow the sport from 500 participating student-athletes to 2,100 across the Carolinas. The Panthers ultimate goal is to get girls flag football sanctioned as a varsity sport in both North and South Carolina.
Before her time with the Panthers, Coleman began her professional career with the public accounting firm, Deloitte, serving as an Audit Manager and working closely with the Panthers organization.
In addition to her work with the Panthers, Coleman has formed roots throughout the Carolinas, sitting on the Board of Trustees for the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation and Queens University, the Executive Committee of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, the Board of Directors of Charlotte Sports and Charlotte Center City Partners and the President Advisory Board of Clemson University. Coleman is also a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council and serves on the finance committee of Girls on the Run.
Coleman has been recognized for her accomplishments with the Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award in 2020 and Sports Business Journal Game Changers Award in 2024.
Coleman grew up near Lake Hartwell, S.C. and graduated from Clemson University with a degree in accounting. She also holds a master's degree in professional accountancy from Clemson. Coleman and her husband, Wade, have two sons, Thomas and Charlie.
