By RADL Wire Staff
The Pro Padel League (PPL) isn’t just riding the wave of padel’s rapid rise—it’s steering the ship full throttle. In a bold statement of intent, the league has appointed two seasoned executives—Brian Flinn as Chief Operating Officer and Diane Gotua as Chief Commercial Officer—to power its next phase of growth across North America and beyond.
With teams spanning the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the PPL has quickly established itself as the premier professional padel league in the world. Now, it’s making moves to transform from breakout sensation to cultural powerhouse.
Flinn, a veteran operator with nearly 30 years of experience leading business transformation for brands like WWE, the NBA, and the New York Knicks, joins CEO Mike Dorfman to refine the league’s operations and amplify its momentum. “Brian’s track record of driving transformative growth for sports and entertainment brands is unmatched,” said Dorfman. “His vision and leadership will be game-changing for the PPL.”
Flinn, who most recently served as Partner & COO at Isos Capital Management, said joining the PPL represents a perfect alignment of passion and profession. “Padel is at an exciting inflection point,” he said. “We’re building a league that delivers a world-class experience for fans and redefines what a modern sports brand can be.”
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- Brian Flinn as Chief Operating Officer
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- Diane Gotua as Chief Commercial Officer
Meanwhile, Gotua brings her global pedigree to the commercial helm. With a career that includes senior leadership roles at the NBA and Fanatics, plus a formative stint on Wall Street, she’s a powerhouse in scaling sports businesses across continents. At the NBA, Gotua led efforts like the Basketball Africa League and NBA India; at Fanatics, she shaped their global strategy and launched Fanatics Live, the company’s foray into live commerce.
Now, she’s ready to bring that same energy to padel. “Sport becomes a global force when it’s fueled by culture,” said Gotua. “Pro Padel has that same potential. We’re creating a lifestyle brand rooted in community, innovation, and global relevance.”
As CCO, Gotua will lead revenue strategy across media rights, sponsorships, merchandise, licensing, and franchise growth. Dorfman called her “a visionary leader” who understands the cultural dynamics shaping modern fandom.
With Flinn and Gotua joining the leadership bench, the PPL is clearly not just building a league—it’s architecting the future of a sport on the rise. Expect big swings.
ABOUT PRO PADEL LEAGUE
Founded in 2023, the Pro Padel League (PPL) is the world’s top professional padel league with 10 teams in the United States, Canada, and Mexico comprised of the most talented male and female players in the world. The 2025 season will feature five international events, including three regular season competitions, an All-Star festival, and the PPL City’s Cup.
PPL events reach 300 million households across more than 100 countries via world-class distribution partners. All PPL events and matches can also be viewed globally on the PPL’s YouTube channel.
