The LPGA’s leadership team continues to evolve with the recent resignation of Brian Carroll. As executive vice president of global media/production and content at the LPGA, Carroll oversaw a team of more than a dozen employees – including the social media team – and had been with the organization for 15 years.

“We are deeply grateful for Brian’s 15 years of leadership and service to the LPGA and wish him all the best in his next chapter,” an LPGA spokesperson said in a statement provided to Golfweek.

“The EVP Production and Content role will not be replaced, and interim leadership is in place to ensure continuity. As we move forward, we will continue to assess our organizational needs and how best to resource them in support of the LPGA’s continued momentum.”

Hired by former commissioner Mike Whan, Carroll came to the LPGA in 2010 from the PGA Tour, where he was a director in broadcasting and programming. He’s been an executive VP at the LPGA since 2022.

Carroll told Golfweek he’ll begin work as an instructor and executive in residence at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, this semester. He also has plans to launch a consulting business.

Kessler hired Monica Free, formerly of LIV, as the new Chief of Sales and Partnerships Officer. Fee officially started on Jan. 5.

The tour has yet to announce a new Chief Marketing Officer.

Late last year, the LPGA announced a new partnership with U-Next in Japan, which Kessler described as the “largest international streaming deal we’ve had in the history of the LPGA.” In addition, the tour signed a new multi-year media partnership with Eclat Media Group, whose flagship platform, SPOTV, has been the No. 1 sports channel in South Korea for the past six years.

The move comes after the tour’s long-term South Korea broadcast partner, JTBC, failed to pay for broadcasting all LPGA events in 2024 and 2025 as well as the unpaid bills that led to the cancelation of the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship.

Kessler calls TV rights one of the “lifeblood elements” of the LPGA and has listed visibility among his four pillars to success.

“I also think if you look at other leagues, what they figured out how to do is create audience outside of the broadcast,” Kessler said during a press conference at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

“Formula 1 is an example. You look at the power of the Monday highlight reel where millions and millions of people are tuning in to see what happened during Sunday’s broadcast.

“That’s an area where we haven’t done a whole lot yet at the LPGA but certainly represents enormous opportunity for us.”

In November, the tour announced a new multi-year agreement with property insurer FM, aimed at significantly improving the tour’s television product. Beginning this season, non-major events will have a 50 percent increase in the total number of cameras used to cover an event, increasing hole and shot coverage capabilities. Slow-motion cameras and three times more microphones will be used to help further enhance coverage. There will also be a heightened focus on athlete storytelling with more walk-and-talks with players and caddies.  

As the LPGA looks to better position itself among women’s sports leagues and the broader sports landscape, filling this position – however it’s reconfigured – with a forward-thinking executive will no doubt be a high priority for Kessler in the new year.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA’s VP of Global Media resigns after 15 years