SAN DIEGO -- Tom Garfinkel, a former executive with NASCAR's Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and the Arizona Diamondbacks, was introduced Wednesday as the San Diego Padres' president and chief operating officer.
"I think Tom is a cutting edge leader in the sports industry and brings a high level of leadership and integrity to the role," new Padres vice chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Moorad said. "I think he will be terrific."
This was the first major move by Moorad, who took over his new ownership position earlier this month.
"There's a familiarity quotient to be sure, having had the experience of working with Tom in Arizona," Moorad said. "This was a natural hire in many respects."
The 40-year-old Garfinkel will oversee all non-baseball operations for the club and report directly to Moorad.
While in Arizona for nearly three years, Garfinkel led a management team that grew the organization's revenue by 25 percent.
"This is an organization that has done a lot of things right," Garfinkel said. "It has had a lot of great accomplishments over the last several years."
Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, Garfinkel spent five years with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, joining the company in 2001 as vice president and leaving in 2006 as executive vice president, overseeing all business operations.
"I have known Jeff for a long time," Garfinkel said. "I think great organizations are built when leadership has like-minded value structures. And Jeff and I certainly have like-minded values. And again, there are a lot of great people already in place here. And a lot of things have been done right."
Both Garfinkel and Moorad talked about the Padres hosting an All-Star game in the near future.
"I think a lot of franchises would like to have an All-Star game, and there's a long line waiting to try to get one," Garfinkel said. "I think if you look at Petco Park and you look at this community and franchise, this certainly would be a great venue for one."