Tom Werner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Werner
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Werner in 2007
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| Chairman of the Boston Red Sox | |
| Assumed office February 2002 |
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| Chairman of Liverpool F.C. | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Martin Broughton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Charles Werner
April 12, 1950 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| Children | 5 |
| Residences | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | St. Bernard's School Hotchkiss School |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (BA) |
| Occupation | Television producer, businessman |
Thomas Charles Werner (born April 12, 1950) is an American television producer and a successful businessman. He is known for his work in both television and sports.
Through his company, Fenway Sports Group, he is currently the chairman of two major sports teams: Liverpool Football Club in England and the Boston Red Sox baseball team in the United States.
Werner first became a part-owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team in 1990. Later, he joined a group that bought the Boston Red Sox. He has been the chairman of the Red Sox since 2002. Under his leadership, the Red Sox have won four World Series titles. One of these, in 2004, ended an 86-year wait for a championship! In 2018, the Red Sox won a record 108 games and their ninth World Series title.
Werner became chairman of Liverpool F.C. in 2010. During his time there, Liverpool has won many trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.
As a television producer, Werner teamed up with Marcy Carsey to create The Carsey-Werner Company. This company produced many popular TV shows like The Cosby Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and That '70s Show.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Werner was born in New York City in 1950. He grew up with two siblings, a sister named Patsy and a brother named Peter Werner.
He attended St. Bernard's School and Hotchkiss School. He then went on to graduate from Harvard University in 1971.
Television Career Highlights
Werner started his career in television in 1973 at ABC-TV. He quickly moved up, becoming a senior vice president in 1979. While at ABC, he helped develop shows like Mork & Mindy and Taxi.
In 1980, Werner left ABC and co-founded The Carsey-Werner Company with Marcy Carsey. As an executive producer, he helped create many famous TV shows. These included The Cosby Show, A Different World, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and That '70s Show. In 1996, he was honored by being added to the Television Hall of Fame.
In 2000, Werner, Carsey, and Caryn Mandabach joined Oprah Winfrey to launch Oxygen. This was a 24-hour cable channel focused on lifestyle and entertainment for women. Later, in 2007, NBC Universal bought the network.
In 2018, Werner was an executive producer for the return of Roseanne. After that show was cancelled, he also produced its spin-off, The Conners.
Sports Team Ownership
San Diego Padres Baseball
Werner first became involved in sports team ownership in 1990. He and 14 other investors bought the San Diego Padres baseball team for $75 million. As the main financial partner, he was the team's general managing partner.
During his time with the Padres, he was part of Major League Baseball's Executive Council. He also helped push for the wild-card format, which started in 1995 and added more teams to the playoffs.
One memorable moment happened in 1990. Werner invited Roseanne Barr, the star of his TV show Roseanne, to sing the national anthem at a Padres game. She sang it in a funny, screechy voice, which became a famous moment.
The Padres had some ups and downs during his ownership. After a few good seasons, the team struggled in 1993 and 1994. Werner sold most of his share in the team in 1994 but kept a small part until 2007.
Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group
Werner returned to baseball in 2001. He joined a group that included John W. Henry and Larry Lucchino to buy the Boston Red Sox. Their offer of $700 million was accepted, and they officially took over in 2002. Henry became the main owner, Werner was named chairman, and Lucchino became president.
This new ownership group was committed to keeping Fenway Park, the team's historic home. They invested over $400 million to improve the ballpark, ensuring the Red Sox would stay there for a long time.
In 2002, the new owners hired 28-year-old Theo Epstein as the general manager, making him the youngest in baseball history. Under new manager Terry Francona, the Red Sox achieved amazing success. In 2004, they made a historic comeback against the New York Yankees and then won the World Series. This was their first championship since 1918! They went on to win more World Series titles in 2007, 2013, and 2018.
Liverpool Football Club
In 2010, the same ownership group (Henry, Lucchino, and Werner) bought the Premier League football team Liverpool. Werner was named chairman of the club starting in December 2010.
In 2012, Werner made the tough decision to let go of coach Kenny Dalglish. Later, Brendan Rodgers became coach and helped Liverpool finish second in the Premier League in 2013–14.
German coach Jürgen Klopp took over in 2015. Under Klopp, Liverpool reached the UEFA Champions League Final in 2018. In the 2018–19 season, Liverpool finished second in the Premier League but went on to win the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final. This was their sixth Champions League title and the first trophy under Klopp. In June 2020, Liverpool won the Premier League, their first top-division league title since 1990.
Community and Giving Back
Thomas Werner is the founding chairman of the Red Sox Foundation. This is the charity part of the Boston Red Sox team. Since 2002, the foundation has given money to many organizations. It has also helped hundreds of Boston public school students with college scholarships through the Red Sox Scholars program.
In 2008, Werner helped create the Home Base Program. This program is a partnership between the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital. It helps military veterans and their families deal with challenges like PTSD and brain injuries.
In 2011, the Red Sox Foundation received a special award from Major League Baseball for its "Red Sox Scholars" program. Werner has also received awards for his humanitarian work, including the "Outstanding Civilian Service Award" from the United States Army for the Home Base Program.
Personal Life
Thomas Werner lives in Los Angeles. He was previously married to Jill Troy Werner, and they have three children: Edward, Carolyn, and Amanda. In 2022, he married ABC News correspondent Jennifer Ashton. Jennifer has two children from a previous marriage.
