Pressler Promotes Uhlich to Vice President Post for Angels

Kevin Uhlich, a longtime Angel executive whose career with the team started as a batboy in 1976, was promoted Tuesday to vice president of business administration for the club.

Paul Pressler, the executive who oversees Disney’s professional sports teams, said he would create a similar position for the Mighty Ducks and make an external hire to fill it. Uhlich is 44.

Pressler said he has decided to separate most business operations of the teams but hire one president to replace Tony Tavares, who resigned Jan. 4. Pressler said he has not yet interviewed potential replacements and would not do so until he completes his review of the operations of both teams.

In the meantime, Pressler said general managers Bill Stoneman of the Angels and Pierre Gauthier of the Ducks would continue to report directly to him. Pressler said he envisioned the search for a new president lasting from one to four months, perhaps with the assistance of an executive search firm, and said he did not believe his extended stewardship of the teams would hamper them.

“It’s not like you’re trying to fill a GM position,” he said. “That you would really have to fill immediately, and it’s not something I’d be capable of doing.”

Pressler, chairman of Disney’s parks and resorts division, had considered not replacing Tavares but decided otherwise after examining the operations of other corporate owners of multiple pro teams. Pressler also said the Angels and Ducks will have their own marketing, promotions and publicity departments.

The model borrows from AOL Time Warner. Stan Kasten is president of the Atlanta Braves, Hawks and Thrashers.