Entering his 17th season with the Kansas City Chiefs and 27th in the NFL, Mark Donovan is one of the league's most innovative and impactful executives. As President of the Chiefs, Donovan oversees all aspects of the team's business operations and has been instrumental in shaping the club into a global sports and entertainment powerhouse.
Under Donovan's leadership, the Chiefs have become a model NFL franchise—pioneering digital ticketing, expanding international social engagement and fandom, and securing game-changing partnerships including the club's first-ever naming rights deal for GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. He spearheaded the creation of Foolish Club Studios, elevated Arrowhead Events into a premier national venue brand, and helped deliver landmark moments such as hosting the 2023 NFL Draft, securing six 2026 FIFA World Cup matches (including a quarterfinal), and staging major events like the return of NCAA Division I football and the launch of the Battle Sports Kansas City Classic.
Donovan has championed a modern, content-driven approach to brand expansion, with the Chiefs becoming the number one fanbase in the NFL and leading the league in platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The club now ranks in the top three in fandom across all nine of the NFL's international markets—and is number one in six of them. He has also guided the club's multi-market growth strategy under the NFL Global Markets Program, securing global marketing and commercialization rights and building lasting fan and business engagement across Europe and Latin America.
Locally, Donovan has driven significant economic and civic impact. The Chiefs and events at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium generate nearly $1 billion annually for the Kansas City region, supporting 6,000 jobs and contributing over $28 million in tax revenue to the State of Missouri. He has also played a pivotal role in the franchise's future stadium planning, working closely with both Missouri and Kansas officials to evaluate all long-term options—underscoring his commitment to sustained success both on and off the field.
A former Brown University quarterback, Donovan previously held senior roles at the NFL league office, the NHL, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Under his leadership, the Chiefs are a two-time Kansas City Business Journal "Champion of Business," and he was named the 2021 Kansas City Sports Executive of the Year. A respected civic leader committed to community impact and service, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Hunt Family Foundation, has championed numerous other causes, and has redefined the club's charitable strategy to deliver a greater, more focused impact across the region.
