Richard Gotham ’86
Team President, Boston Celtics
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration
Richard E. Gotham ’86, president of the Boston Celtics, exemplifies professional excellence, ethical leadership, and commitment to community.
A native of Milford, Massachusetts, Mr. Gotham studied business administration at Providence College with a concentration in marketing. Following graduation, he had a successful career in the online media and internet technology industries, including senior leadership roles at Lycos and FTP Software. He joined the Celtics in 2003 as executive vice president and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2006. He became team president in 2007, succeeding Arnold “Red” Auerbach, while also serving on the National Basketball Association Board of Governors.
Mr. Gotham’s transformative leadership of the Celtics organization reflects innovation, integrity, and a dedication to service. During his tenure, the Celtics won NBA championships in 2008 and 2024 and made nine Eastern Conference finals appearances and four NBA finals appearances. New records were established for attendance, ticket sales, sponsorship, merchandise, and television ratings. Under his leadership, the Celtics were named the Professional Sports Team of the Year by the Sports Business Journal in 2008 and the 2025 NBA Team Business of the Year. In 2024, he served as executive producer for the HBOMax docuseries Celtics City.
In 2025, Mr. Gotham represented the team in the sale of the Boston Celtics to Parquet Partners, LTD for $6.1 billion, a record valuation for a North American professional sports team.
Under Mr. Gotham’s guidance, the Celtics have increased their efforts to help children in need and underserved communities throughout New England with more than 200 initiatives that impact more than 20,000 children each year. Mr. Gotham is active in charitable and fundraising initiatives on behalf of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, for which he is a board member. He also has served as a board member with The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and NBC Sports Boston.
A proud alumnus, Mr. Gotham has remained engaged with PC by mentoring students and supporting academic and athletic initiatives. He served for nine years on the Board of Trustees, from 2015–2024, and was awarded emeritus status when he retired from the board. He has collaborated with PC Athletics and the School of Business on panels and student engagement and has been a frequent speaker at campus events, including the School of Business Dean’s Symposium.
Mr. Gotham resides in Medfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, Kara Corridon Gotham ’90. They have two daughters and a son.
