The Boston Celtics sold Thursday for a record $6.1 billion valuation, the most-ever for a North American sports franchise.
The move presents a changing of the guard after the Grousbeck family, the current majority owners, led the team to a period of sustained success, including last season’s NBA championship.
William Chisholm, a managing partner of the private equity firm Symphony Technology Group, is the leading investor in the group set to make the purchase, pending approval by the NBA board of governors. Current Celtics minority owner and business executive Rob Hale, Bruce A. Beal Jr., president of Related Companies, and Sixth Street, a global investment firm, are among the other investors in the group.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bill Chisholm:
Who is Bill Chisholm?
Bill Chisholm is the co-founder of Symphony Technology Group (STG), a private equity firm based in Menlo Park, California. He serves as the group’s chief investment officer and managing partner, overseeing the firm’s investment strategies. STG is known primarily for its investments in the tech and software sectors.
In March 2023, Chisholm and STG raised $4.2 billion after the firm closed its largest fund.
Before his time at STG, Chisholm co-founded The Valent Group, and he also worked at Bain & Company and the former PaineWebber, Inc.
Chisholm earned a bachelor of arts from Dartmouth College before getting a master’s of business administration with distinction from the Wharton School.
Chisholm and his wife, Kim, graduated from Dartmouth in 1991; Bill played on the men’s soccer team from 1988-91. Their son, Will, also went to Dartmouth and also played on the men’s soccer team, from 2016-19.
What has Bill Chisholm said about buying the Celtics?
The purchase agreement was announced Thursday in a news release issued by William Chisholm Investor Group. In the release, Chisholm detailed his passion for the franchise.
“Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life,” Chisholm said. “I understand how important the Celtics are to the city of Boston – the role the team plays in the community is different than any other city in the country. I also understand that there is a responsibility as a leader of the organization to the people of Boston, and I am up for this challenge.”
Chisholm also expressed gratitude for Wyc Grousbeck, the former majority owner of the team, along with his father, who will remain in his role as CEO and governor of the Celtics through the 2027-28 season.
“We look forward to learning from Wyc and partnering with Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and the talented team and staff to build upon their success as we work to bring more championships home to Boston,” Chisholm said in the statement.
What have others said about Bill Chisholm?
In the news release that announced the purchase agreement, former Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck called Chisholm a “natural choice” to lead the team.
“Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area,” Grousbeck said. “His love for the team and the city of Boston, along with his chemistry with the rest of the Celtics leadership, make him a natural choice to be the next Governor and controlling owner of the team. I know he appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win on the court while being totally committed to the community. Quite simply, he wants to be a great owner.”
