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WUSA gets CEO Former Quaker Oats executive to run women's league
NEW YORK (AP) -- Former Quaker Oats executive Barbara Allen was hired Thursday as chief executive officer of the new Women's United Soccer Association. Allen, 48, was with Quaker Oats Co. from 1977-98, rising to executive vice president of international food products. She worked at the company with Hank Steinbrecher, who became executive director of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1990-2000. "Her talent was apparent early on," Steinbrecher said. "She is a smart, dynamic and decisive leader to whom people naturally gravitate and who produces results. Her selection to head the WUSA reinforces my confidence in the league's ultimate success." Allen left Quaker Oats to become president of Corporate Express, a product distributor and currently is president of Paladin Resources LLC, a newly formed company in Denver providing services to Internet and other communications companies. The WUSA starts play in April with the Atlanta Beat, Bay Area CyberRays, Boston Breakers, Carolina Tempest, New York Power, Philadelphia Charge, San Diego Spirit and Washington Freedom. "At its foundation, the WUSA is about world-class female athletes," Allen said. "The investors, the management and I hope to build a league that will showcase to families across the country the intense competitiveness, sense of sportsmanship and pioneering spirit of these great athletes." Allen recently became a director of Tyson Foods Inc. and also is a director of Maytag Corp. During the league's formative period, Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks served as acting CEO and chairman. Former U.S. women's team coach Tony DiCicco has been acting commissioner, and Hendricks said DiCicco will remain with the league, reporting to Allen.
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