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2w ago

Long Beach Grand Prix Names Jim Liaw CEO as Jim Michaelian Moves to Penske

The succession plan positions Jim Liaw to run the 2026 weekend as interim general manager before becoming CEO, with Jim Michaelian shifting to Penske Entertainment.

Long Beach, Calif., — 02-19-13- From left to right, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Stephen Papadakis, owner of Papadakis Racing, helped kickoff the first full day of construction on the 1.97-mile Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach temporary race circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach. The Super Drift Challenge, held on Friday and Saturday nights during race weekend. Also the all-new Scion FR-S car,left, will be driven by participants in the 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race….Stephen Carr/ Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian describes the upcoming 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian poses for a photograph in Long Beach on Thursday, November 14, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Overview

  • Jim Michaelian will depart as president and CEO on June 30, 2026 to take a role at Penske Entertainment, and Jim Liaw will assume the top job on July 1, 2026.
  • Liaw becomes temporary general manager on February 9 to help oversee the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, while Michaelian leads the April 17–19 race weekend and coordinates the handover.
  • Penske Entertainment acquired the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach in 2024, providing the ownership framework for the planned leadership change.
  • Liaw brings experience as Performance Racing Industry general manager and as co‑founder of Formula Drift, whose Super Drift Challenge has long been part of the Long Beach program.
  • Organizers highlight sustained growth after the event’s 50th anniversary, with the 2025 weekend reported at over 200,000 attendees and the 2026 schedule again featuring IndyCar and IMSA.