Why Kristina Guillen resigned as LA 2028 Olympics head of HR after just four months

Why Kristina Guillen resigned as LA 2028 Olympics head of HR after just four months

Festus Chuma 20:56 - 02.10.2024

LA 2028 Olympics Head of HR has resigned after four months following other key leadership departures amid controversy.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Head of HR Kristina Guillen has stepped down from her role just two weeks after the departure of the Chief Legal Officer Tanja Olano marking another significant leadership change within the LA28 team.

Guillen, who had been in her role for less than four months, departs at a critical time as the organization gears up for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The resignation has sparked speculation within the organization and the broader sports industry although no specific reason for her departure has yet been provided.

Guillen, in a post on LinkedIn, had previously described her appointment as a “once-in-a-career moment” and expressed her honor in being part of the team responsible for bringing the Olympics back to Los Angeles, as well as the Paralympics for the first time.

A spokesperson for LA28 commented on the departure but refrained from addressing specific individuals or situations.

"We will not discuss personnel or specific people,” the spokesperson said.

However, they acknowledged that the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Games marks “a natural time of transition, and staffing changes are to be expected.”

Guillen’s resignation follows the exit of Chief Legal Officer Tanja Olano, who left her position after an eight-year tenure, citing the “all-consuming” nature of her work and a desire to take a break.

Olano played a pivotal role in the city’s successful Olympics bid and the formation of critical partnerships, including the joint venture with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

However, both departures come amid troubling reports from last August, in which 11 anonymous sources accused LA 2028 Chairman Casey Wasserman of inappropriate conduct, specifically of having a “chronic condition of sleeping with people who work for him.” These accusations were published by the Daily Mail, a report that Wasserman has vehemently denied.

“Consider the source,” Wasserman said during the CNBC x Boardroom: Game Plan Summit, in response to the allegations.

“If The Daily Mail qualifies as reporting, I guess we’re all in trouble… We live in a day where people can say whatever they want, without facts, without cooperation, without sources, and it is the world we live in. The wind hits the tall trees.”

Wasserman’s denial has done little to stop the rumors swirling around the LA28 leadership team, with speculation about the reasons behind Guillen’s and Olano’s departures continuing to grow.

While Olano publicly attributed her exit to personal reasons and the need for a break from the demanding pace of Olympic planning, no such clarity has been offered regarding Guillen’s decision.

Guillen’s brief tenure has raised questions about potential internal challenges within the LA28 organization though sources close to the situation stress that leadership transitions are normal at this stage of the planning process.

“With new leadership, it’s logical that staffing changes will be made. No other conclusions should be drawn,” an individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap.

“It’s a natural transition for turnover coming out of the Paris Games as LA28 embarks on its next chapter.”

While LA28 continues to prepare for the 2028 Summer Games, the organization must now navigate these significant leadership shifts during a critical time in its preparations.

The head of HR role is particularly important as the organization moves from its early planning phases into more detailed logistical and operational arrangements.

Guillen’s departure has raised questions about how LA28 will handle its staffing needs moving forward particularly given the size and complexity of the event.

Tags: