USRowing Appoints Peter Roby as Interim CEO

Former Director of Athletics and Recreation at Northeastern University has been a respected leader in college sports for more than four decades 

Experience includes serving as interim Director of Athletics at Dartmouth from February 2021 through June 2022 during their search for a permanent AD 

April 2, 2026 – The Board of Directors of USRowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States, today announced that they have appointed Peter Roby as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) while they conduct a national search for a permanent CEO. This appointment, which is effective immediately, follows USRowing’s previous announcement that it had appointed Elevate Talent to lead the search for a permanent CEO. 

Roby assumes his new role following the previously announced departure of former CEO Amanda Kraus, who stepped down in March to pursue other professional opportunities. In this capacity, Roby will report to the Board of Directors and oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations and work closely with the Board, staff, athletes, and key stakeholders to ensure continuity and ongoing progress against strategic priorities. 

“Peter has been a highly respected leader in college sports for more than four decades as an athlete, coach, sports marketing executive, scholar, and athletics director,” said Kirsten Feldman, Chair of USRowing’s Board of Directors. “We are confident his deep experience and proven leadership will provide a responsible, steady hand to work with our leadership team to oversee the organizations’ day-to-day operations while the Board conducts a comprehensive national search for a permanent CEO.” 

For more than a decade, Roby served as Director of Athletics and Recreation at Northeastern University, where he directed the university’s 18-sport, NCAA Division I athletic department, which competes in the Colonial Athletic Association, Hockey East Association, and Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges. During Roby’s time at Northeastern, the university produced highly competitive crews on both the men’s and women’s side of the boathouse, including multiple trips to the NCAA Championships and several podium finishes at the Eastern Sprints and the IRA National Championships. In addition, Roby is currently a strategic consultant to the NCAA and its Leadership Development programs.  

Prior to being appointed athletics director in 2007, Roby served as the Director of the Northeastern Center for the Study of Sport in Society, where he was a national leader championing the role sports can play in bringing about positive social change through research, education, and advocacy. 

Before that, Roby was the Vice President of U.S. Marketing at Reebok and served six seasons as Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Harvard University and three years as an assistant coach. Before joining Harvard, Roby was an assistant coach at Stanford University, Dartmouth College, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

“I am honored and excited to take on this important interim role,” said Roby. “USRowing has established incredible momentum under Amanda Kraus’s leadership. As the organization heads toward the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, my focus will be on maintaining this momentum while the Board identifies an experienced and proven permanent leader for the organization.” 

About USRowing 

USRowing is the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States, responsible for stewarding, strengthening, and growing American rowing by championing performance and igniting new passion for the sport. USRowing serves a broad and dedicated community—athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers, clubs, and event organizers—and the U.S. National Team. Through events, programming, education, and fundraising, USRowing supports participation at every level— from learn-to-row novices through the high performance athletes dedicated to reaching Olympic and Paralympic podium.