Petty chief operating officer at USA Cycling

USA Cycling has appointed Sean Petty to the position of chief operating officer effective immediately, the national governing body announced Wednesday. Formerly chief of staff, Petty assumes the role left vacant by Steve Johnson after his appointment to chief executive officer in April.

As chief operating officer, Petty will be responsible for the day-to-day management of USA Cycling and will assume all operational responsibilities.

"Sean's appointment to the position of chief operating officer is an important step in the continuing evolution of USA Cycling," commented Johnson. "His vast experience, knowledge and success are a tremendous asset to the organization across the board and his leadership abilities and diverse skill set further define the type of person we needed to fill this role."

Petty's history with USA Cycling dates back to 1994 when he was hired as the managing director of the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (USPRO). In 1997, Petty was promoted to the position of managing director of athlete performance - a post he held until 2001. From 2001 to 2004, Petty was the vice president of marketing before becoming chief of staff in January of 2004.

In 2005, Texan Petty was also selected by UCI President Pat McQuaid to serve on the seven-member UCI Road Commission.