COLUMBUS, Ohio – The man who shepherded Livestrong from a small local charity to a multi-billion-dollar global brand is leaving to take the handlebars of Pelotonia.
Doug Ulman told The Associated Press on Monday he will leave Livestrong in January after 14 years to become president and chief executive officer of the charity bike ride that has raised more than $61 million for cancer research in its first five years.
During Ulman’s tenure, Livestrong grew from a small local charity into a $500 million global brand before it was rocked by founder Lance Armstrong’s confession that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career.
The charity’s 2013 financial reports showed a 34 percent slump in donations. They show a 38 percent dive in total revenue after commercial sponsorships were canceled or not renewed.
A three-time cancer survivor himself, Ulman will also work to build national awareness and support of the new $1.1 billion Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, which hospital and university officials vow will be the Midwest’s largest cancer hospital and the third-largest in the nation.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play multiple roles in the fight against cancer and collaborate with the academic and business communities in the great city of Columbus,” Ulman said.
Based on the number of riders, Pelotonia is nation’s largest single-event cycling fundraiser. A record 7,270 riders took part in the most recent event and, when the results are tallied and announced in November, the total amount raised is expected to top $80 million, organizers said.