The San Diego Padres have appointed one of its owners, Eric Kutsenda, as its new chairman and interim control person, succeeding his longtime friend and business partner, Peter Seidler.

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¡°With a heavy heart, I humbly accept this appointment in honor of my dear friend, Peter Seidler, who I had the privilege of working with for almost 30 years,¡± said Kutsenda. ¡°I am excited to partner with Erik Greupner and A.J. Preller to help guide the Padres forward in fulfillment of Peter¡¯s vision. That vision includes the Padres remaining as a family asset for generations to come and is anchored in Peter¡¯s dedication to the fans and community of San Diego. Our north star remains the same: to win a World Series Championship for the city of San Diego.¡±

Kutsenda, 51, is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Seidler Equity Partners (¡°SEP¡±). He is a member of the firm¡¯s Executive Committee and Investment Committee and is actively involved in establishing and overseeing SEP¡¯s strategic vision. He began his professional career at KPMG LLP. Kutsenda earned a Bachelor¡¯s Degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and a Master¡¯s Degree in Taxation from DePaul University.