Packers promote Ed Policy to oversee more of business operations

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers continued their reorganization Wednesday in the wake of President and CEO Mark Murphy taking on football-related responsibilities.

The Packers promoted vice president and general counsel Ed Policy to chief operating officer and general counsel. Policy, 47, will be responsible for sales, marketing and human resources in addition to legal duties, overseeing Titletown District development and other departments.

"Ed, obviously, has done an outstanding job since he's been here," Murphy said Wednesday. "Everything I've given him, he's done well. This is a natural progression for him."

When Murphy promoted Brian Gutekunst to general manager Jan. 8, succeeding Ted Thompson in that role, he also reorganized football operations so that the general manager, director of football operations and head coach all will report to him. Previously, everyone in football operations reported to the general manager.

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Paul Baniel, vice president of finance and administration, will continue to report to Murphy.

In addition to the duties already mentioned, Policy oversees Packers security, shareholder services, community outreach and public affairs. Policy, who was COO of the Arena Football League before serving for a time as its commissioner, said the quality of the Packers' senior staff will smooth the transition.

Murphy will continue to lead weekly senior staff meetings and Policy will continue his involvement in league issues.

Policy's work with the Packers' 45-acre Titletown District, immediately west of Lambeau Field in Ashwaubenon, is drawing attention, Murphy said.

"People not only across the league, but others, have started to notice" Policy's work on the district, he said. "This is a way to keep him here."

Titletown District includes Lodge Kohler hotel, Hinterland Brewery and Bellin Health Sports Medicine and Orthopedics clinic. The Packers and Microsoft announced plans for TitletownTech, a technology and innovation center expected to open in fall 2018.

The park and plaza part of the district consists of the plaza, adjacent to South Ridge Road; an activity area that includes sections for horseshoes, shuffleboard, bocce, ping-pong, bean-bag toss and other activities; playgrounds for three age groups, a 40-yard dash course with timer, the snow-tubing hill, ice-skating pond and trail, and full-sized football field.

Plans call for additional commercial development, townhouses and an apartment building.

"We will bring in some more operational heft in Titletown," Policy said. "I will continue to work on the planning and development of the overall project."

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Policy joined the Packers in 2012 after working with the NFL and the Arena Football League. He is the son of former San Francisco 49ers President and CEO Carmen Policy.

Policy has extraordinary people skills and a great work ethic, Murphy said.

"He's extremely intelligent," Murphy said. "He never talks down to people. He's very genuine."

Policy graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in accounting and an emphasis on finance, and received his law degree from Stanford. He is on the board of directors of Brown County United Way, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Green Bay YMCA. He is on the leadership council of Achieve Brown County.