Lakers Hire Yao Williams II as VP of Global Partnerships Amid Front-Office Overhaul

The Los Angeles Lakers named Yao Williams II vice president and head of global partnerships on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. He will lead the team's global partnerships group, which covers partnership sales, business solutions and partnership activation. Usa Today reported that the Lakers cited Williams' proven track record of securing both domestic and international large-scale deals while leading high-performing sales teams.

Williams has two decades of experience in global sales and brand partnerships in sports and entertainment. His previous employers include the NBA and Manchester City. He was most recently at Elevate Sports Ventures, where he co-led global partnerships.

Rosen added that Williams is an engaging leader with an appetite for innovation that will help drive performance and deliver best-in-class experiences for Lakers partners. Williams is the latest addition to an ongoing front-office overhaul that began after owner Mark Walter bought the team for a record $10 billion last year.

On the basketball operations side, the Lakers recently hired Rohan Ramadas as assistant general manager of strategy and data systems.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in his exit interview after the team's playoff elimination that the franchise plans to hire another assistant general manager to lead scouting and player development before the NBA Draft on June 23.