Mariners add to ownership group as Panos and Mary Panay buy shares in franchise
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - For just the fourth time in 33 years, the Seattle Mariners Partnership Group has added new members. Hours before the team itself begins a six-game road trip against American Leagues foes the Texas Rangers and the Athletics, Mariners Chairman & Managing Partner John Stanton announced via press release that Panos and Mary Panay have purchased shares in the franchise and joined the Partnership Group. It’s two additions in as many years for the franchise, as last year the partnership group welcomed Brad Smith and Kathy Surace-Smith.
“On behalf of all of the partners, I want to welcome Mary and Panos. Since this group formed in 1992, it has always been a priority to identify partners who both love baseball and are passionate about public service. Adding Panos and Mary to our partnership strengthens our commitment to the Mariners Mission of winning championships, creating unforgettable experiences and serving our communities.”
Panos Panay, who can be found on twitter at @panos_panay, is currently the Senior Vice President of Amazon Devices & Services. He leads Amazon’s consumer electronics business, which includes Alexa, Echo, Kindle, Fire TV, Fire tablets, Ring, eero, Blink and the Amazon Appstore, as well as future looking initiatives such as Zoox autonomous vehicles, and Project Kuiper, which seeks to “increase global broadband access.” Panos’ previous position was serving as Executive Vice President & Chief Product Officer at Microsoft, where he led the Windows + Devices business, so he’s got direct experience in two major companies in the area.
Panos’ time at Microsoft is an interesting one, as he is the creator of the Microsoft Surface line of premium devices as well as the Windows 11 operating system. During his time with vision and strategy for Windows + Devices, he helped the development and design of Windows and Windows 365, the development, design, supply chain, and manufacturing of Microsoft hardware, including Microsoft Surface and Mixed Reality devices, as well as the creation of EDU products and features. Panos’ time at Microsoft officially ended on September 18th, 2023.
Back in 2022, Panos was awarded the AHEPA Socrates Award and in 2023 received a Leadership 100 Award for Excellence, which recognizes outstanding Greek Orthodox and Greek American leaders. Panos received an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and a B.Sc. from California State University, Northridge.
“We’re excited to join the Partnership Group, deepening our connection to a team we’re passionate about. We look forward to supporting the Mariners success, both on the field and in in the community.”
A Pacific Northwest resident for over 20 years, Mary Panay is a retired Freight Forwarder and Logistics Manager, devoted mother of four, and is noted as a “huge Mariners fan.” She serves on the board of the UW Autism Center, advocating for inclusive education and resources for individuals with autism. When she is not volunteering, she enjoys Mariners baseball games and experimenting with new recipes.
Panos and Mary are the parents of four children. Panos’ first cousin, Panos (Andreas) Panay, is a music entrepreneur.
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