The following press release was issued today:
SPORTS LEGACY INSTITUTE ELECTS WWE’S PAUL LEVESQUE TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOSTON, October 31, 2014 – Sports Legacy Institute (SLI), a non-profit organization dedicated to concussion education and research, announced that Paul Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative at WWE, Inc. (WWE) has been elected to its Board of Directors.
At WWE, when he is not performing as WWE Superstar “Triple H”, Levesque is responsible for overseeing the talent relations and talent development departments, training of WWE Superstars and Divas and management of worldwide recruitment and live global events. Levesque also plays an integral role behind-the-scenes as a director and producer, working to shape the creative direction and storylines of WWE’s programming.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul Levesque to our Board of Directors,” said Christopher Nowinski, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Sports Legacy Institute. “As an athlete himself, Paul is familiar with the risks associated with concussions. As an executive, Paul has made it a priority to protect WWE’s performers through education and awareness, as well as preventative measures and world class medical care.”
“It is an honor to join the Board of Directors at SLI to support the important work they do in the field of concussion management and prevention,” said Levesque. “This work benefits athletes of all ages and skill levels, from high school to collegiate to professional sports, as well as many others including members of our military.”
In his role at WWE, Levesque also oversees WWE’s comprehensive Talent Wellness Program and Professional Development for all WWE performers. WWE’s Talent Wellness Program has been in place since 2006 and includes cardiovascular testing, medical and wellness staffing, annual physicals and health care referrals and ImPACT testing, where every one of its talent undergoes baseline neurocognitive testing. WWE was the first major sports-entertainment organization to include ImPACT testing as part of its Talent Wellness Program in 2008.
WWE’s Professional Development focuses on four key pillars – Life Skills, Education, Wellness and Career Success. Through this program, WWE provides seminars on financial education, media training, language courses, living a healthy lifestyle and injury and illness prevention. WWE also offers college tuition reimbursement.
In 2013, Levesque oversaw the development of the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., serving as the home to WWE’s developmental division, NXT. A 26,000 square foot facility, the Performance Center provides coaching from the best in the business with seven training rings, a world-class strength and conditioning program and cutting-edge edit and production facilities. The WWE Performance Center serves as the hub for WWE’s Talent Wellness and Professional Development Programs.
In 2013, WWE made a grant of $1.2 million to SLI to fund research that could lead to potential new treatments for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease.
Joining Levesque on the Board of Directors will be Sylvia Mackey of Baltimore, Maryland, Director of the John Mackey Fund; John Corcoran of Boston, Massachusetts, Founder and President of Trinity Partners, LLC; author Andrea Pomerantz Lustig of New York City, and philanthropist Laura Hunt of Dallas, Texas, Principal at Laura Hunt, LLC.