Chairman and CEO
On August 30, 2019, John J. Sherman reached an agreement to purchase the Kansas City Royals from the Glass family, officially becoming the franchise’s third owner on November 25, 2019. Having lived in Kansas City for over 40 years, Mr. Sherman has been an entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist who is extensively involved in the business, civic, and philanthropic communities in the region.
Prior to his purchase of the Royals, Mr. Sherman served as a Vice Chairman and minority ownership partner of the Cleveland Indians, beginning on August 19, 2016. During his three-plus seasons with Cleveland, he was active in the management of the ball club and was also active on Major League Baseball’s Audit Committee.
He has been responsible for establishing two successful businesses in Kansas City. His first startup, LPG Services Group, grew rapidly and merged with Dynergy (NYSE: DYN) in 1996. Mr. Sherman later founded Inergy L.P., which went public in 2001. He led Inergy through a period of tremendous growth, merging it with Crestwood Holdings in 2013, and continues to serve on the board of (now) Crestwood Equity Partners (NYSE: CEQP).
Mr. Sherman was recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002 and later inducted into the 2014 inaugural class of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Bloch School of Business Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame with a group that included Ewing Kauffman – the original owner of the Royals – and Lamar Hunt, a founder of the American Football League (AFL) and original owner of the Kansas City Chiefs.
John and his wife, Marny, reside in Kansas City, Mo. The couple is active in numerous charitable efforts with heavy involvement in educational opportunities for the underserved. He is a past Chair of the Board of Directors for both the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and The Truman Presidential Library Institute. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Civic Council, UMKC Foundation and Teach for America Kansas City, while also serving as a trustee of the Kauffman Foundation and the National World War I Museum.
Mr. Sherman earned his degree from nearby Ottawa University (Kan.), where he played quarterback for the Braves’ football team.
