PHOENIX, Arizona (Tuesday, July 12) — Phoenix Rising FC, Arizona’s highest-level professional soccer team, announced today the appointment of William Kraus to its Board of Directors as Governor. Kraus is a founding shareholder of Phoenix Rising FC who has served as an advisor to its Board of Directors since 2016.
“I am delighted to announce that Bill Kraus has been officially appointed to our Board of Directors,” said Phoenix Rising FC Chairman Berke Bakay. “Bill is extremely valuable to our leadership team with his unique combination of investment experience, business acumen and soccer knowledge. As Phoenix Rising FC’s representative on the USL Championship Board of Governors, he will not only help continuously improve our club but also the league as a whole.”
Kraus worked more than two decades for GE Capital as an equity investor and corporate lender. He currently serves as a partner in the investment banking firm Arlington Capital Advisors. Kraus earned his MBA at Duke University and played collegiate soccer at Brown University as an undergraduate.
“This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the Phoenix Rising FC Board of Directors as Governor,” said Kraus. “The decisions we will be making regarding soccer operations, the addition of new investors and expanded facilities will set the course for professional soccer in Arizona for the next several decades. I am truly honored to be a part of this organization and to be assuming this leadership role.”
In addition to Chairman Bakay, Kraus will be joining Phoenix Rising FC Alternate Governor Tim Riester, Founding Board Members David Rappaport, David Stearns and Mark Detmer and Board Members Brandon McCarthy, Alex Zheng, and Alan Wen.
About Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising FC is the highest-level professional soccer franchise in Arizona history. Established in 2016, the club has won the 2020 and 2018 Western Conference Titles as well as the USL Championship’s 2019 Regular Season Title. Rising holds the record for the longest win streak in American professional soccer history (20 matches). It is owned by legendary Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, Advantage Sports Union CEO, Alex Zheng, club chairman Berke Bakay and an impressive collection of local business leaders and international celebrities.
Phoenix Rising FC plays in the USL Championship, the largest Division 2 professional league in the world. For season tickets or more information call 623-594-9606 or visit PHXRisingFC.com. You can also follow the team on Facebook (PHXRisingFC), Twitter (@PHXRisingFC), Instagram (@PHXRisingFC) and YouTube (PhoenixRisingFootballClub) or by downloading the Official Team App in the App Store or Google Play.
