On Wednesday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals announced changes to their leadership. Club president Bill DeWitt III will now oversee both the baseball and business operations of the organization. Anuk Karunaratne will be the new club president and will oversee the business aspects of both the team and the broader business operations.
Cardinals Announce Leadership Changes
The Cardinals announced the following promotions to the organization’s executive leadership team today:
Bill DeWitt III has been named CEO of the Cardinals.
Anuk Karunaratne has been named President of Business Operations.
Alongside these promotions, Bill DeWitt Jr. will… pic.twitter.com/nOFSGcRMnx
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 24, 2026
The announcement was made in a press conference at Busch Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals are in town, preparing for the third game of a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
DeWitt Jr. Remains With the OrganizationAll Categories
Current chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. has previously spoken about preparing for changes in organizational leadership. His goal was to create an opportunity for the organization’s long-term success, so that they would promote from within. The Cardinals have been successful under the ownership of the DeWitt family, who bought the team in 1995.
Since the purchase, DeWitt Jr. has been the team’s chairman and has overseen baseball and business operations. Despite the announced changes, DeWitt Jr. will remain chairman and principal owner. Furthermore, he will continue to be involved in business and baseball decisions.
DeWitt III and His New Role
DeWitt III has been the club president since 2008. Some of his contributions to the organization have been the construction of Ballpark Village and the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame.
DeWitt III also helped Chaim Bloom take over as head of baseball operations, replacing John Mozeliak. Under Bloom, the Cardinals have revamped their minor-league system, with multiple trades this past winter helping to accomplish that.
DeWitt III’s official title will be “Chief Executive Officer.”
“I’m honored by this expanded opportunity to lead the Cardinals organization. Anuk’s elevation to President of Business Operations reflects the strength of his leadership and his deep commitment to working collaboratively with our staff, business partners, and fans. Together with Chaim Bloom’s baseball operations leadership, we have a young but experienced team with a great vision for the future.”
Karunaratne’s New Role
Karunaratne joined the Cardinals in 2024. Some of his biggest challenges have been navigating the organization’s television deals following the Regional Sports Network’s declaration of bankruptcy in 2023. In addition, Karunaratne has worked to improve the gameday experience for fans at Busch Stadium III. Fans are slowly returning to the stadium, with some electing to do without shirts.
“I came here 25 years ago as a college student at Washington University, and am now blessed to have the opportunity of a lifetime with one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports, while living in an amazing St. Louis community that my family now calls home. I am grateful to the DeWitt Family for this privilege, and recognize the great responsibility that comes with it.”
Karunaratne and Bloom will report to DeWitt III.
Some Things Remain the Same
There may be some changes in leadership, but for the Cardinals, the goal will always be the same: Bring a 12th championship to St. Louis.
Main Photo: Brett Davis- Imagn Images
