Bob Williams, who has run Philips Arena since its opening in 1999, has been named president of the Atlanta Hawks, putting him in charge of the team's business operations.

The Hawks play their home games at the arena. The Atlanta Spirit, which owns the Hawks and the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and operates the arena, said Friday that Williams will be president of the Hawks and the arena and an executive vice president of the parent company.

Williams joined the Hawks in ticket sales in 1975 and later worked for the Omni Coliseum, where the Hawks played before Philips Arena was built. He was a member of the committee that oversaw Philips Arena's design and construction.