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Bill Chisholm will now assume the role of the Celtics' lead governor.
ByBobby Krivitsky|
Apr 4, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Bill Chisholm, center, who leads a group that is buying the Boston Celtics, stands with current owner Wyc Grousbeck and Chisholm’s wife, Kimberly Chisholm before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Bill Chisholm, center, who leads a group that is buying the Boston Celtics, stands with current owner Wyc Grousbeck and Chisholm’s wife, Kimberly Chisholm before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

There has been a change of plans. Wyc Grousbeck will no longer stay on as governor of the Boston Celtics, per ESPN's Shams Charania. That arrangement was originally part of the then record-setting $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm.

Instead, the latter, who will become the franchise's majority owner in a deal finalized soon, will assume the role of the team's lead governor. Grousbeck will remain as alternate governor and CEO through 2028. That is according to a report from Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.

The alteration of this arrangement is more practical. As the Celtics' majority owner, Chisholm is now their top decision-maker. Regardless of whether Grousbeck was the lead governor, it's the former's turn to dictate what happens and how the operation runs.

Grousbeck taking on the position of alternate governor is the structure that best aligns with the reality of the situation.

Bill Chisholm is in charge now

Grousbeck isn't leaving. Even if he later has no official title with the organization, he can be a valuable source of counsel for Chisholm and those within the franchise.

His experiences and relationships matter. Grousbeck is also someone Celtics fans should want to remain involved with the team. He has treated his time at the helm of the operation as a philanthropic endeavor.

When Boston could contend for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, ownership, which, of course, also includes Stephen Pagliuca, was aggressive about acquiring players who could help raise championship banners to the TD Garden rafters.

Operating over the second apron for the last two seasons, an approach that helped the Celtics ascend to the NBA mountaintop in the 2023-24 season, is a prime example of their willingness to invest in the roster.

Now, Grousbeck can help counsel Chisholm. The two appear to have a friendly relationship. After the transaction, they regularly sat together as Boston played on the parquet.

Like Grousbeck, Chisholm appears to view this as a labor of love. The Georgetown, Massachusetts, native grew up a diehard fan of the team he recently purchased.

Chisholm couldn't even bring himself to watch the "Celtics City" documentary on HBO Max while the bidding process was playing out, in case the franchise went to someone else.

That's the spirit that the team's fan base appreciated from how Grousbeck and Pagliuca ran the organization. It appears that it will live on with Chisholm.

The two sharing the same guiding light for how to operate as a team owner signals that the restructuring of roles, with Chisholm becoming lead governor and Grousbeck the alternate, is best for the franchise and should not negatively impact their relationship.

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