Lewis Promoted To Senior VP For MLB's Diversity Arm

November 20, 2008 8:30 p.m. EST

New York, NY (AHN) - Major League Baseball named Wendy Lewis as its new senior vice president of diversity and strategic alliances in an announcement made Thursday.

Lewis' promotion came a day earlier at a meeting of MLB's diversity committee. Her new title underscores the commissioner's office's initiative of promoting diversity in the workplace, either in business or baseball operations.

The new position would also give Lewis more flexibility in launching various programs that are diversity-oriented, from the personnel front up to the economic level.

"It's well-deserved given the work she has done on behalf of our offices and the clubs," MLB's president and chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, told MLB.com.

Lewis, who will report to MLB executive vice president and chief financial officer Jonathan Mariner, was recently in Houston to conduct a workshop with Astros owner Drayton McLane.

She was also the brains behind the Executive Development Program, which aims to build up talent for the industry by enhancing career development.

Lewis previously served as MLB's executive director of human resources back in 1995 and was responsible for the Diverse Business Partners' Program.