Cardinals Announce Organizational Leadership Transition
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS ANNOUNCE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
BILL DeWITT III NAMED CEO; ANUK KARUNARATNE ELEVATED TO PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
ST. LOUIS, MO., June 24, 2026 – The St. Louis Cardinals today announced new executive appointments as part of a long-planned leadership succession strategy reflecting the organization’s vision and commitment to excellence.
Bill DeWitt III has been named Chief Executive Officer, expanding his leadership responsibilities to oversee both baseball and business operations.
Anuk Karunaratne has been elevated to President of Business Operations, assuming leadership of all business matters and off-field initiatives for the organization and reporting to DeWitt III.
Bill DeWitt Jr. continues as Chairman and Principal Owner, and will continue his involvement in significant team baseball and business matters.
Today’s announcement follows the September 2025 appointment of Chaim Bloom as President of Baseball Operations.
“This organizational evolution reflects our family’s enduring commitment to the Cardinals, our fans, and our community,” said Bill DeWitt, Jr., Chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals. “Today’s news also represents a natural progression of leadership responsibilities to steward the next generation of Cardinals baseball, both on and off the field.
“Bill’s leadership over the past 18 years as President – including his vision for Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village while leading our business efforts overall – has prepared him well to become our next CEO. Over time, Bill has assumed increasing responsibilities across our organization, including baseball, and this appointment and transition to CEO duly recognizes this.
“Anuk has made significant contributions to our organization since arriving here prior to the 2024 season. He also has a fantastic feel for our culture and what the Cardinals mean to the St. Louis community, which will serve him well as our new President of Business Operations.”
DeWitt III, 58, has served as President of the St. Louis Cardinals since 2008. During his tenure, he has overseen the successful opening of Busch Stadium (2006), the development and launch of Ballpark Village Phase I (2014) and Phase II (2020), and the overall business success of the organization. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Yale University.
“I’m honored by this expanded opportunity to lead the Cardinals organization,” said DeWitt III. “Anuk’s elevation to President of Business Operations reflects the strength of his leadership and his deep commitment to working collaboratively with our staff, business partners, and fans. Together with Chaim Bloom’s baseball operations leadership, we have a young but experienced team with a great vision for the future.”
Karunaratne, 43, joined the Cardinals in 2024 as Senior Vice President of Business Operations, bringing more than 10 years of experience in professional sports business management. Most recently, Karunaratne served as Executive Vice President of Business Operations with the Toronto Blue Jays (2020-2024), where he led the organization’s sales, marketing, fan experience and business administration operations.
In 2023, Karunaratne was recognized as one of Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” for his role in transforming the fan experience at Rogers Centre and improving the team’s overall direction.
A Washington University graduate who has deep roots in St. Louis, Karunaratne will focus on all non-baseball facets of the club with an emphasis on fan value and engagement, attendance and community involvement.
“I came here 25 years ago as a college student at Washington University, and am now blessed to have the opportunity of a lifetime with one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports, while living in an amazing St. Louis community that my family now calls home,” Karunaratne said. “I am grateful to the DeWitt Family for this privilege, and recognize the great responsibility that comes with it.”
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