CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Football Club has a new president, Nick Kelly, the organization announced Tuesday.

“Soccer has arrived in Charlotte, and we have an incredible opportunity to build an organization and a culture of fandom that rivals the top teams in MLS,” Kelly said in a statement. “When I met David Tepper and Tom Glick, I was attracted to the exciting vision they had for what Tepper Sports & Entertainment can be for the Carolinas and I look forward to helping realize that vision with Charlotte FC.”

Kelly spent six years with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) before being named the new club president, and most recently served as the vice president of partnerships, beer culture, and community where he oversaw all company partnerships in the sports, music, and entertainment fields across the United States.

Under his new role, Kelly will be responsible for the handling the club's day-to-day operations, according to a release.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nick to the team,” said David Tepper, owner of Charlotte Football Club. “Nick has a track record of connecting brands with fans across all sports and will bring fresh ideas to Charlotte FC. In the past year, we have assembled a strong sporting staff, led by Zoran Krneta, and have continued to build our business staff. Nick’s hiring comes at the perfect time as we turn our attention to preparing for an exciting first season in 2022.”

According to a release from Charlotte FC, Kelly played a vital role in developing sports marketing strategies for player, team, and league partnerships within MLS, the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NASCAR, PGA, NWSL, and the Olympics during his time with AB InBev.

With AB InBev holding sponsorship agreements with more than a dozen MLS clubs and having partnerships with several major tournaments, including the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, International Champions Cup and Copa America, Kelly also brings extensive experience in the world of soccer marketing.

“We are delighted to have Nick join us to lead our new Major League Soccer club,” said Tom Glick, president of Tepper Sports & Entertainment. “He is a highly talented executive with a passion for and understanding of soccer. We kick off in 15 months, and with Nick’s arrival, we are poised to shift gears as we build a winning club that serves fans, partners and our community in Charlotte and across North and South Carolina.”