SALT LAKE CITY -

Steven Starks has been with Larry H. Miller Group of Companies since 2007, but since 2015 for the company, he has been president of the NBA’s Utah Jazz and LHM Sports & Entertainment, which are part of the overall company. 

Also in his role as president, his responsibilities included oversight of the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League and the Salt Lake Bees, which is the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliate of the Anaheim Angels.

On Wednesday, the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies named Starks as chief executive officer and an executive member of the board, a move that is effective on Monday. 

Dean Fitzpatrick, who has been with the Larry H. Miller Group for 31 years, will continue as president of Larry H. Miller Dealerships.

More background on Starks

Starks, who in his previous position was also responsible for the Vivint Smart Home Arena, Megaplex Theatres, the Tour of Utah professional cycling race, and The Zone Sports Network, will remain actively involved with Jazz basketball operations. He will also continue to serve as an alternate member of the NBA Board of Governors.

The naming of Starks to the chief executive officer and executive board member positions follows a national and internal search.

Larry H. Miller Group of Companies chairman and owner Gail Miller said Starks had a strong understanding of the company’s “40-year heritage, values and culture.”

“For more than a decade, he has demonstrated strong leadership capabilities as the head of several of our diverse businesses, leading operations and commercial functions, and prioritizing the customer experience and talent development,” Miller said in a news release. “Steve will be responsible for the overall design and execution of our long- and short-term business strategies and has articulated a strong vision to ensure we continue to be the best place in town to work and to do business.

His various roles since joining the organization in 2007 including serving as executive vice president of LHM Management Corp. In that post, he oversaw Total Care Auto Powered by Landcar and Saxton Horne Communications. He also developed a merger and acquisition strategy for LHM Dealerships and the company.

Before coming to LHM Group, Starks worked for Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. In that position, he helped manage Huntsman’s transition team. He also oversaw The Utah Policy Partnership, working to improve efficiencies within state government.

Starks is also a Silicon Slopes board member. Recently, he completed his term as 2018 chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors, served on the board of trustees at Weber State University (WSU) from 2007 to 2017, and was a trustee for The Road Home from 2013 to 2014.

Utah Business Magazine has recognized him as one of the top Forty Under 40, and Sports Business Journal named him one of the top Forty Under 40 Sports Executives.

“I believe in the LHM mission to enrich lives and I am humbled and honored to be entrusted with this new responsibility,” Starks said. “I have a strong appreciation for the talented team behind our everyday successes, and I enjoy the diversity of our portfolio and industries. I look forward to working closely with Gail, the Board of Directors and the Miller family to ensure we operate consistently with our guiding principles, and lead with the future in mind.”

Don Stirling, an executive vice president of LHM Sports and Entertainment, will serve as interim president for that company and the Utah Jazz business operations until the position is filled.