AEW Hires Ex-WWE Live Events Director Kosha Irby As New Chief Operating Officer
Kosha Irby will work as All Elite Wrestling's Chief Operating Officer from here on, a statement by the All-Elite promotion has confirmed.
Irby will oversee strategic planning and execution of Live Events, Marketing, Finances, Human Resources, Licensing, Consumer Products, and other major lines of business, the statement adds. AEW President Tony Khan shared his excitement for Irby to join the AEW fold.
"Kosha brings decades of experience within the sports, entertainment, and wrestling industries, alongside an incredible work ethic and passion for our brand. As Chief Operating Officer, he will be a phenomenal asset to AEW as we enter the next phase of the company's ongoing business development and expansion."
Irby joins All Elite Wrestling after years as the Chief Marketing Officer for Clemson University's athletics department. He has also previously held positions with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football and had been President of Professional Bull Riders.
The most notable role on Irby's resume before joining AEW was his tenure with WWE. Irby was the Regional Director of Live Events for the promotion, a role he began in August 2011. Irby was with WWE for close to seven years before his exit in June 2018.
Kosha Irby isn't the first notable name from WWE to make his way to All Elite Wrestling. Mike Mansury left WWE in 2020 and joined AEW in 2022 as the company's Senior VP and Co-Executive Producer.
This move did not come without some controversy. One of Mansury's first moves was to cut AEW's former VP of Post Production Kevin Sullivan (not to be confused with the Taskmaster.) Many in AEW were shocked by the move, with some of the belief that Khan could have prevented Sullivan's termination.
Last month, AEW hired Jennifer Pepperman, mere days after her exit from WWE was confirmed. Pepperman had been a Senior Writer & Producer for WWE. Pepperman is said to be close friends with Mercedes Mone and it is believed she is working directly on Mone's creative direction in AEW.
