Magic chief executive officer Alex Martins is stepping down and taking on a new role as the vice chair of the organization, the Orlando Sentinel learned Wednesday.
Orlando will not employ a new CEO, the Sentinel learned, and instead, Magic president of business operations Charlie Freeman will lead business efforts for the franchise.
The moves are all part of a new leadership structure the Magic are implementing after 14 years with Martins as CEO.
In his new position, Martins will serve as a senior advisor to the Magic board of directors to advance long-term strategic initiatives and serve as a resource to team executives. Martins moves into the non-board vice chair role on July 1.
“We thank Alex for his exemplary service to the Magic organization as CEO,” Magic chairman Dan DeVos said in a statement. “Since joining the team in 1989, Alex’s commitment to excellence has distinguished him as an extraordinary leader in our organization and the Orlando community.
“When Alex communicated his intention to retire several years ago, our family decided to create a new role leveraging his experience,” DeVos added. “We are pleased he has agreed to continue our partnership and congratulate him on his new role as vice chair.”
Entering his 30th season with the Magic, Freeman’s responsibilities will include oversight of personnel, ticket sales, global partnerships, arena operations, philanthropy, finance, human resources, communications, and broadcasting. He’ll report directly to the Magic board of directors.
“Charlie is a skilled and strategic leader in whom we have tremendous trust,” DeVos said. “With his deep expertise in business operations, our family is confident he is the right leader for this time in our organization. We congratulate him and look forward to the powerful impact his leadership will bring.”
(Courtesy of Magic)
Magic president of business operations Charlie Freeman will lead business efforts for the franchise after July 1. (Courtesy of Magic)
“I’m incredibly humbled by this opportunity and deeply grateful for the trust the DeVos family has placed in me,” Freeman said. “The Magic has always been rooted in strong values and a long-term vision, and I look forward to working closely with the family — and the next generation — to help carry that vision forward.”
As part of the restructuring, the DeVos family’s third generation — the grandchildren of the late Rich and Helen DeVos — will see their contributions to the franchise increase after they have become increasingly involved in both the governance and management of the Magic over the years.
Magic vice president of shareholder engagement Ryan DeVos, who has served as a team executive for the past eight years after nearly three in the NBA league office, will step into an expanded role as managing director, working closely with Freeman, president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and the Magic board of directors, the Sentinel learned.
Jason Beede/Orlando Sentinel
Ryan DeVos, Magic vice president, left, has served as a team executive for the past eight years. (Jason Beede/Orlando Sentinel)
Already living in Orlando, his work will include aligning the Magic organization with DeVos family values, deepening community and partner relationships and helping shape strategy across basketball and business operations.
Cole DeVos will relocate to Orlando at the beginning of the 2025-26 season to work more closely with the franchise, where he will engage in a full-time management development program. He plans to build upon his experience working on a team responsible for creating and managing multiple Michigan-based sports franchises.
Weltman will continue to oversee all basketball-related efforts, reporting directly to the Magic board of directors.
2008: Magic COO Alex Martins waves as the Orlando Magic have a thank you rally for their fans in front of the Orlando City Hall on May 16, 2008. They gave out milk, juice, water and doughnuts to commuters. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
2007: Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith, center, introduces Stan Van Gundy, right as their new head coach at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland on June 7, 2007. Magic President Bob Vander Weide, far left, and Chief Operating Officer, Alex Martins, center left, look on from the side. (Sentinel file)
2008: Coach Stan Van Gundy, COO Alex Martins, President Bob Vander Weide, point guard Jameer Nelson and General Manager Otis Smith congratulate each other as top elected officials, business and community leaders gather for the groundbreaking of the Orlando Events Center project, on Church Street at Division Street on July 25, 2008. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
2009: Orlando Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins, along with other city and community leaders, signs the final steel beam during the Topping Off Ceremony for Amway Center on Nov. 5, 2009. The milestone was commemorated with the placement of the final two beams, signed by Magic players and staff, city employees, construction workers and fans. The 875,000 square foot Amway Center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 1
2010: Standing in center court of the new Orlando Events Center, Magic COO Alex Martins describes the layout of the Orlando Magic arena. The new events center is scheduled to be open in fall 2010. (Sentinel file)
2010: Orlando Magic President Alex Martins and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer meet up along with fourth and fifth grade students from Nap Ford Community School to test out the plumbing at the new Amway Center by flushing approximately 443 toilets simultaneously in Orlando on Sept. 8, 2010. (Sentinel file)
2010: Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, left, and Orlando Magic president Alex Martins get ready to cut the ribbon at the ceremony at the new Amway Center on Oct. 1, 2010.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
2011: Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, center, and Orlando Magic President Alex Martins, right, share a laugh as they prepare to serve food during a Thanksgiving breakfast served at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida in Orlando on Nov. 24, 2011. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
2012: Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins announces the firing of head coach Stan Van Gundy, and the departure of general manager Otis Smith, during a press conference at the Amway Center in Orlando on May 21, 2012. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
2012: Jacque Vaughn, the new head coach of the Orlando Magic, with Magic CEO Alex Martins, left, during his introduction news conference at the Amway Center on July 30, 2012. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
2013: Former Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady shakes hands with Alex Martins as he is honored during first half action of a season home opener against the New Orleans Pelicans at Amway Center in Orlando on Nov. 01, 2013. (Sentinel file)
2013: Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins honors Magic founder Jimmy Hewitt, left, during a timeout as the Magic play host to the San Antonio Spurs at the Amway Center in Orlando on Nov. 29, 2013. (Sentinel file)
2014: Former Orlando Magic player Horace Grant, right, shakes hands with Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins, left, before Grant is recognized between periods during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Amway Center in Orlando on Jan. 17, 2014. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2015: Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, left, and CEO Alex Martins listen during a news conference to announce the firing of Orlando Magic Head Coach Jacque Vaughn on Feb. 5, 2015 in Orlando, Fla. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2016: Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins answers questions about Coach Scott Skiles’ resignation during a press conference on May 12, 2016, at Amway Center. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
2016: Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka and Orlando Magic Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins, also chair of the OneOrlando Fund oversight board, are photographed Oct. 11, 2016 on the “Love Bridge” at the Orlando Science Center. (Sentinel file)
2017: Orlando Magic founding father Jimmy Hewitt, left, laughs with Magic CEO Alex Martins, right, during Hewitt’s Magic Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Amway Center on March 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2017: Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos, left, shares a light moment with Magic CEO Alex Martins, right, before the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic NBA game at the Amway Center on April 12, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2020: Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins, left, speaks as Magic head coach Steve Clifford listens during a news conference at the Amway Center on March 12, 2020 in Orlando. The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice” after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, most people recover in about two to six weeks, depending on the severity of the illness. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2021: From left, Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins; head coach Jamahl Mosley; President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, and Vice President of Ownership Engagement Ryan DeVos watch as the final beam in the construction of the AdventHealth Training Center is hoisted into place during a topping-off ceremony on July 21, 2021. The $70 million center features 130,000 square-feet of combined training and sports-medicine facilities in a partnership between the DeVos family, team owners, the Orlando Magic and AdventHealth. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
2023: Shaquille O’Neal speaks as Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins laughs during a press conference before Shaq’s Orlando Magic jersey is retired before the Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic NBA game at the Kia Center in Orlando on Feb. 13, 2023. O’Neal, who played for the Magic early in his professional career, is the first Orlando Magic player to have his jersey retired. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2023: Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins speaks before the Magic volunteers serve Thanksgiving Breakfast at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, on Nov. 23, 2023. This is the 31st year the Magic have hosted the breakfast. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
2025: Former Orlando center Dwight Howard is honored as an inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame at halfcourt during the Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic NBA game at the Kia Center in Orlando on March 24, 2025. From left are: Magic Chairman Dan DeVos, Magic CEO Alex Martins, Dwight Howard, Dick DeVos and Betsy DeVos. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
2025: Dwight Howard hugs Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins as Dwight is inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Kia Center in Orlando on March 24, 2025. Howard is the 13th inductee into the team’s hall of fame. He played for the Magic from 2004-2012. Howard is the Orlando Magic’s all-time leader in points scored (11,435), rebounds (8,072), blocked shots (1,344), free throws made (3,366), free throws attempted (5,727) and minutes played (22,471). (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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2008: Magic COO Alex Martins waves as the Orlando Magic have a thank you rally for their fans in front of the Orlando City Hall on May 16, 2008. They gave out milk, juice, water and doughnuts to commuters. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Martins has spent 36 years in professional sports management, and rejoined the Magic in June 2005 after he left the franchise in 1998 to take jobs with the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Hornets. He was later promoted to Magic CEO in December 2011.
“It has been an honor leading the Magic alongside the DeVos family, and I welcome the opportunity to continue working closely together in this new role,” Martins said. “I offer my gratitude to the family for their dedication to the Magic organization and trust in me to serve as its leader for the past 14 years.
“Leading the Magic as CEO has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.”
