May 13, 2024 – Hornets Sports & Entertainment Co-Chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin announced today the hiring of Shelly Cayette-Weston as the organization’s President of Business Operations. In this role, Cayette-Weston will oversee the day-to-day business operations for all of HSE’s properties, including the Charlotte Hornets, Greensboro Swarm, Hornets Venom GT and Spectrum Center. Cayette-Weston, who will join the organization on July 1, comes to Charlotte after spending 12 years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, including the last two as Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer.
“We are pleased to welcome Shelly to Hornets Sports & Entertainment,” said Schnall and Plotkin. “As we’ve gotten to know Shelly, we have been struck by her leadership skills, her experience and her ability to build relationships with key constituencies such as corporate partners, ticket holders and community members. She lives our values and believes in the vision we have for the future of HSE.”
Cayette-Weston initially joined the Cavaliers’ partnership marketing department in 2012 before rising to Vice President of Global Partnerships and Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, where she oversaw all aspects of growth, new business development, innovation and retention of corporate partners, as well as ticket sales and services, for the Cavaliers, Lake Erie Monsters (AHL), Cleveland Charge (NBA G League) and Cavs Legion GC (NBA 2K League). Cayette-Weston spent the first five years of her NBA career with the New Orleans Hornets where she worked in marketing, community investments and corporate partnerships. Before joining the NBA, she began her sports and entertainment career at Caesar’s Entertainment in marketing and advertising.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Hornets Sports & Entertainment and become a part of the Charlotte community. I am appreciative of my last 12 years with the Cavaliers and thankful to ownership, the leadership team and all the many team members that supported me over the years,” said Cayette-Weston. “This is a compelling time for HSE, with Rick and Gabe’s passion, vision and commitment, in addition to the transformative arena renovations and the new basketball leadership of Jeff Peterson and Charles Lee. I look forward to building upon the energy and growth of our team on the court and the impact of the reimagined Spectrum Center, all of which will strengthen the experience of our fans, partners and community throughout the Carolinas. Charlotte is an amazing city with great people, tremendous growth and endless opportunities, and I cannot wait to get started.”
Under Cayette-Weston’s leadership, the Cavaliers became one of the top performing revenue franchises in the NBA during the last 10 years. She oversaw core initiatives, including securing jersey patch partners, arena renovations, international business strategy and the growth of Cleveland’s youth sports outreach, all of which created a positive impact on the business, stakeholders and the community.
A graduate of Tulane University, where she was a member of the women’s basketball team, Cayette-Weston was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 in 2019 and Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 in 2021. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Shelly and her husband, Aron, have two daughters, Ivy Grace and Averie Marie.