HOUSTON – After just 17 days at the helm of Houston Dash and Dynamo FC, Jamey Rootes has relieved himself of his duties as CEO.
BREAKING: Jamey Rootes steps down as @HoustonDynamo @HoustonDash CEO @TheStrikerTexas #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/2zPKyTNk3u
— Victor Araiza (@victoraraiza) July 9, 2021
A club statement from the Dynamo read as follows:
"It is with great regret that Houston Dynamo Football Club announce that Jamey Rootes will step down, effective immediately, as CEO. Due to personal reasons, Jamey will take a leave of absence from the organization.
We ask that Jamey’s privacy be respected during this time.The Club, led by President John Walker, will continue to ably manage and execute the growth initiatives that majority owner and Chairman Ted Segal has previously outlined for the organization.
At an appropriate point, we look forward to welcoming Jamey back to the Club as a senior advisor to Ted Segal and the organization."
Rootes had links to sports in the city of Houston after spending more than two decades with NFL outfit the Houston Texans. He served as team president there until February 2021 when he stepped down from the role. Around that time, Rootes told the Houston Chronicle "I’m young enough to find a new opportunity to create something new."
Jamey Rootes' resignation after more than 20 years with the Texans had been rumored for weeks. It became official today -- he's leaving as the team president.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) February 10, 2021
The NFL was not the only echelon of professional men's sports that the executive had previously forayed into. Rootes also spent time as the president and general manager of Columbus Crew in MLS.
Rootes was announced as the CEO the very same day that Segal took over as the new majority shareholder of Houston Dynamo FC and the Houston Dash. His hiring was celebrated by Segal as a key cog in seeing Houston soccer take the next step forward.
"Bringing in Jamey," said Segal. "Who has 20 years of experience doing just that in the largest league we have here in the United States, that made all the sense in the world. I think he can apply a lot of his skills, which, by the way, started out in MLS, so he’s no newcomer to professional soccer, and so he’s part of that pillar and we’re happy to have him aboard."
READ MORE: WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE UNVEILING OF NEW OWNER TED SEGAL