Whitney Johnson — Haslam Sports Group Managing Partner

Whitney Haslam Johnson is Managing Partner of Haslam Sports Group (HSG). Whitney’s vision and direction helps lead the family-run business, utilizing her expertise in communications, marketing, brand, fan and team member experiences to influence every major decision related to the organizational ethos of win, fan and community.

HSG explores various investment opportunities within the sports and entertainment industries. HSG's current portfolio includes ownership of the Cleveland Browns, investor-operating rights to the three-time MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew, a controlling interest in the Milwaukee Bucks and an investment in the WNBA. The Bucks investment also includes control and operation of Fiserv Forum; the Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center, the team’s training center; the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks G League affiliate; and Bucks Gaming, the team’s 2K League affiliate. 

Whitney was Chief Experience Officer for Pilot Flying J from 2019-2024 and served on their Board of Directors. She was responsible for elevating the company’s guest and team member experience by working with multiple departments across the company to ensure ongoing refinement of its brand image. From marketing and communications to modernizing facilities and implementing new technologies and innovative programs, she focused on improving guest experiences to ensure that loyalty and satisfaction were the primary emphasis for every Pilot Flying J interaction. 

Whitney’s career at Pilot Flying J started as a category manager and creative services manager in 2005, and she worked in various roles before she was named Chief Experience Officer. Whitney’s contributions were instrumental in further establishing Pilot Flying J as one of the most dynamic and recognizable brands across North America. Whitney began her career at Marriott International Hotels where she was an assistant controller from 2001-03. Whitney graduated with a Finance Degree from the University of Georgia in 2001.

Whitney led the Southeast fundraising efforts for the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. She has served on the board of directors for the Knoxville Museum of Art and Second Harvest Food Bankof East Tennessee, as well as on committees for the United Way of Greater Knoxville. Currently, she is on the board of University of School in Cleveland, Ohio and serves on strategic committees for University Hospitals. Sports Business Journal named Whitney a “Game Changer” in 2018. 

Whitney and her husband JW Johnson have three boys – Hank (13), Ross (12) and Max (10) – and reside in Shaker Heights, Ohio.