OL Reign have appointed Lesle Gallimore as their new general manager, the Seattle-based NWSL club announced Wednesday.

The GM role had been vacant since March 2023, when Nick Perera stepped down from the position after one year.

Gallimore has a long résumé in women’s soccer and has spent nearly her entire career working in the Pacific Northwest.

She most recently served as the commissioner of the Girls Academy, a 90-team national development program that formed in June 2020. Prior to that, she spent 26 seasons as head coach of the women’s soccer team at the University of Washington.

During a coaching stint with the U.S. U-23 youth national team, she worked with several Reign stars, including current USWNT players Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle.

“Lesle has dedicated her life to this sport and helped pave the way for so many young athletes throughout the United States, especially within our local soccer community,” OL Reign CEO Vincent Berthillot said in a statement. “Her decades of experience, her leadership qualities and her love for our club will be a strong addition to the overall success of OL Reign.”

OL Reign is preparing to enter into a new era, as OL Groupe is preparing to sell the NWSL team. As the club readies for change, Gallimore will be at the helm.

“OL Reign boasts a remarkable roster and technical staff whose efforts on the pitch I will attempt to humbly match off the pitch. I can’t wait to get started,” she said.