The Chicago Cubs today named Wally Hayward Executive Vice President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, a new position within the organization.

Hayward will report to Cubs President Crane Kenney.

“Wally Hayward is widely respected throughout the industry as a dynamic leader and innovator,” said Kenney.

“He is a Chicagoan, he understands the fabric of our wonderful city and he has a keen appreciation for the passion and devotion of our fans given he is a lifelong Cubs fan himself.

“We have a talented sales and marketing staff in place and know Wally will lead this group to continued success as we look to redefine sports marketing for our business partners.”

“As a lifelong Cubs fan, I’m proud to be a part of the Chicago Cubs family under the new ownership of the Ricketts family,” said Hayward.

“I’m looking forward to partnering with Tom and Crane to change the game for the Chicago Cubs on and off the field. By offering innovative ideas, we will create an exceptional experience for Cubs fans and our corporate partners.”

A veteran of more than 20 years in the sports marketing industry, Hayward joins the Cubs after most recently serving as a senior advisor to Chicago 2016.

He helped develop the organization’s corporate sponsorship model and was the strategic advisor and liaison between Chicago 2016 and the United States Olympic Committee’s Sales and Marketing Team.

Prior to Chicago 2016, Hayward, 41, was the Chairman and CEO of Relay Worldwide, an experiential marketing and sponsorship consulting agency that counts many of the industry’s top corporations as its clients.

Founded by Hayward in 2001, Relay Worldwide began as a 12-person operation based in Chicago and in only four years grew revenues 650 percent and expanded to a staff of 130 people at nine offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and China. In 2005, Hayward merged London-based Sponsorship Intelligence into Relay Worldwide.

In recognition of Relay Worldwide’s tremendous business growth since its inception in 2001, Hayward was inducted into the SportsBusiness Journal’s Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame in 2008 after being honored for three consecutive years (2006-08) as one of the leading sports marketing executives below the age of 40 in the United States.

Hayward spent 13 years within Bcom3, Starcom MediaVest Group and Leo Burnett, building an internal sports and event marketing arm for the company’s top clients, before founding Relay Worldwide.

Hayward began his career at Lazin Sports Group working directly with the NFL Players Association.

A 1990 graduate of Northwestern University, Hayward, his wife Jenny and daughters Riley and Hope reside in Chicago.