The global organisational consulting firm, Korn Ferry, has been named a founding partner of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, securing one of the most strategically significant commercial roles within the LA28 partnership portfolio.
Under the agreement, Korn Ferry has been appointed the official talent and organisational consulting partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA, embedding the firm at the core of Games planning and delivery. The partnership moves beyond traditional sponsorship, positioning Korn Ferry as a key contributor to the people, leadership frameworks, and organisational systems that will underpin the 2028 Games.
Korn Ferry will work closely with the LA28 Organising Committee and Team USA across talent acquisition, leadership development, workforce planning, and organisational design. The firm is expected to support the recruitment, development, and preparation of a Games-time workforce of nearly 5,000 full-time staff, covering senior leadership, operational teams, and Games delivery functions.
Gary D. Burnison, CEO, Korn Ferry, said, “With millions of fans, thousands of athletes and countless volunteers, the LA28 Games will display a beautiful mosaic of people, perspectives and passion on one of the world’s most inspiring stages. Our partnership is all about building the culture and energy that will define the Games. Simply put, we’re powering the people who power the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games.”
Casey Wasserman, Chairperson and President, LA28, added, “The 2028 Games will celebrate human potential and achievement with moments that unite the Los Angeles community, the nation, and people around the globe. Our work with Korn Ferry began nearly two years ago with the placement of Reynold Hoover as our CEO. Now, through our expanded partnership, we are building the team that will bring the LA28 Games to life and inspire the world.”
LA28 has framed the agreement as a people-first partnership, reflecting the scale and operational complexity of staging both the Olympic and Paralympic Games across Southern California. With dozens of venues and multiple host cities involved, talent strategy, leadership capability, and organisational performance have been identified as critical enablers of Games delivery.
For Korn Ferry, the partnership represents a high-profile demonstration of its leadership advisory and workforce transformation expertise on one of the world’s largest sporting stages. Rather than focusing on consumer-facing activation, the firm’s role is deeply embedded within the operational engine of the Games.
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to welcome more than 15,000 athletes and attract billions of viewers worldwide. The event will mark Los Angeles’ third time hosting the Olympic Games and its first time staging the Paralympics, with Korn Ferry joining the top tier of LA28 commercial partners as preparations accelerate toward 2028.
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