Leadership Profile – Peter Holt of the San Antonio Spurs

Peter Holt is the former CEO of the San Antonio Spurs, one of the most winningest franchises in professional sports. Under his leadership, the team became North America’s best run sports franchises. During his reign as chairman and CEO from 1996 to 2016, the San Antonio Spurs won five NBA titles. Their record of consecutive 50-win seasons extends 18 years.

No other franchise in professional sports has earned the reputation of being as stable as the San Antonio Spurs. It began when Peter Holt and his board appointed General Manager Gregg Popovich to Head Coach in the 1996-97 season. Then followed the 1997 NBA Draft, when the team had the good fortune of selecting Tim Duncun, a future Hall of Fame athlete, with the No. 1 pick overall. On this foundation, the team continued to build and find success around a core group of players which included Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. This success is accredited to stable ownership. “We’ve been fortunate to have a wonderful ownership group for the last two decades,” said Rick Psych, co-CEO of the Spurs. “Peter has provided great leadership. His dedication, vision and management style have allowed all of us to develop, grow and succeed.” (S. Saporito)

Coach Popovich has great praise for the trust Peter Holt puts in him and his coaching staff. “From the very beginning, they have been pretty hands off in the sense they let us do our jobs,” he said. “R.C. (Buford) and I, of course, keep them informed, as we should. But there is no interference, just support and enjoyment. “They love being there and they love the team and what is going on. They love it for the city and they just let us roll.” (T. Orsborn)

Peter Holt is dedicated not only to his franchises, but also the communities they represent. “The championships are wonderful, bringing new sports franchises to San Antonio is important, but the biggest accomplishment for me will always be the impact we’ve had in our community. The pride, support and love that our city has for the Spurs is truly amazing.” (S. Saporito) Holt is a community leader who believes in corporate responsibility to support local projects. He is very active in the San Antonio United Way and served as chairman of the board in 2001 – 2002. In addition to the United Way, Holt has served on the boards of JPMorgan Chase Bank, the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Inc., Free Trade Alliance San Antonio, The Trust Co., the Texas State Aquarium, Trinity University, and the Development Board of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. (Bloomberg)

Peter M. Holt achievements extend beyond basketball. Born the heir to a tractor empire, Holt is the former CEO of HoltCat, the largest Catepillar dealership in the United States. A 4th generation CEO, his great-grandfather Benjamin Holt invented the Caterpillar, the first practical, track-type tractor. Mr. Holt also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. During his service he earned a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars for Valor, a Purple Heart, and amongst other awards.