Glory Sports International Names Former WWE Executive as New CEO

“We are excited that Andrew has agreed to assume the leadership mantle at Glory in the pivotal role of CEO, on the front lines of our fast-growing organization,” said GSI chairman and co-founder Pierre Andurand in the official release. “Andrew’s breadth of global experience in the media space is a tremendous asset to Glory’s day-to-day business.”

Andurand’s fellow GSI co-founder, Marcus Luer, had been serving as interim CEO over the last year. Luer will now resume his duties as GSI managing director while continuing to serve as the CEO of his sports marketing agency, Total Sports Asia.

Whitaker, who previously served on the GSI board of directors, will operate out of a new GSI office in the Tri-State area. Prior to joining GSI, Whitaker worked for Kings Highway Media and WWE, serving as an executive vice president for the professional wrestling organization.

“I am looking forward to taking a hands-on approach to driving the growth of what I have believed, for months, is an incredible combat sports entertainment product with tremendous global appeal,” said Whitaker.

GSI primarily promotes kickboxing events but also holds mixed martial arts bouts intermittently. The organization recently promoted Dream 18 on New Year’s Eve in Japan, showcasing both combat sports over the course of the evening. GSI also partnered with Singapore-based MMA promotion One Fighting Championship last winter, though no talent exchanges between the organizations have been executed as of yet.