A new interim CEO at the helm of the USATH

Handball in the United States of America has been developing strongly over the last few years, with the outlook being positive, as highlighted by the men's senior team performance at the 28th IHF Men's World Championship, where they won their first two matches in history, 28:27 against Morocco and 24:22 against Belgium.

While the 20th place was not their best finish, with the previous appearances coming when there was only a 16-team lineup at the start of the world handball flagship competition, it really prompted an excellent starting point for the big objective – a good outing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in five years.

However, changes will be made at the top of the USA Team Handball (USATH) hierarchy, with CEO Ryan Johnson informing the Board of Directors that he will resign after 28 February.

"As my final day draws closer, I look forward to providing a more comprehensive statement and reflection on my time in handball. I am overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to work in this incredible sport, and the passion and commitment of our community are second to none," said Johnson, according to the official website of the USATH.

The role of interim CEO was awarded by the Board of Directors to Martin Branick, who will serve in the role effective 1 March, as Branick, the current Events & Membership Manager, knows the job inside out.

Johnson and Branick will work together in February to deliver a smooth transition as one chapter ends and another one begins for the USATH, with a huge potential ready to be tapped into.

"USA Team Handball has a vibrant and passionate community that loves the sport and works daily to grow and develop handball. There is still a lot to be done leading up to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but our community is critical in preparing USA Team Handball for 2028 and beyond. It will truly take a village for us to be successful," said Branick for IHF.info.
Things have been going at a rapid pace in the past few years, with the USATH improving in the men's teams, while the women's junior team also made their first appearance at the IHF Women's Junior World Championship in 2022 in 41 years.

At club level, the New York City THC and the San Francisco CalHeat have been making appearances at the IHF Men's Super Globe over the past few years, underlining the growth needed to create a successful team in the future.

"The potential for handball in the U.S. is tremendous. I am honoured and enthusiastic to lead USA Team Handball in the interim period and continue to build on our current momentum," said Branick, who will act as the interim CEO until the Board of Directors undertakes a comprehensive search for Johnson's successor, with the objective of selecting and hiring a new CEO this spring.

"USA Team Handball must continue to increase awareness of the sport in the U.S. while creating a sustainable financial model that allows for the federation to even better support our clubs and our amazing athletes, both locally and internationally," added Branick.

Johnson leaves the USATH in excellent condition, as the 20th place at Poland/Sweden 2023 has raised awareness around the USA men's senior team, with plenty of players already gaining precious experience in Europe.

"The outstanding performance in Sweden is, first and foremost, a testament to our athletes and staff's dedication and sacrifices. Secondly, the historic wins showcase the sport's potential in the United States while also reminding us that we still have a lot of work to do to perform at this level continually and become even more competitive on the world stage."

"We set records in terms of social media engagement during the World Championship, but in a saturated media market in North America, the sport still has a long way to go. However, the attention and awareness raised is an excellent step on the way, and we work every day to make the sport even more known nationally," concluded Branick.