The New York Jets have announced that the team has named Matt Higgins as Executive Vice President of Business Operations, Thad Sheely as Executive Vice President of Stadium Development and Finance, and Mike Tannenbaum as Executive Vice President/General Manager. All three will report directly to Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson. The announcement was made by Johnson.

Jay Cross, who served as the Jets president for the past eight years, has accepted a position as president of Related Hudson Yards.

“I appreciate all of Jay’s contributions for the past eight years, particularly his efforts to build a new stadium for the New York Jets and a new home in Florham Park,” said Johnson.

“This is an exciting time for the New York Jets. We have assembled a strong management team over the last several years and this structure maintains continuity and stability as we proceed with our plans to relocate to the state-of-the-art Atlantic Health Jets Training Center this fall and into the New Meadowlands Stadium in 2010.”

Higgins enters his fifth season with the Jets and will oversee all elements of business operations, including marketing, sponsorships, legal, human resources, public affairs, merchandising, Internet and broadcasting opportunities. He was initially hired as vice president of strategic planning in 2004 and promoted to vice president of public affairs in 2006 prior to being elevated to senior vice president of business operations in 2007.

Sheely enters his eighth season with the Jets and will be responsible for the team finances, all matters related to the construction of the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center and the new stadium as well as information technology, ticketing operations and the analysis of new business ventures. Sheely originally joined the Jets as vice president of stadium development before being elevated to senior vice president of finance in 2007.

Tannenbaum enters his 12th season with the Jets and will continue to manage all football operations, including the coaching staff, pro and college scouting, salary cap management, video and football technologies, equipment, training and medical personnel. Tannenbaum initially joined the team as director of player contracts in 1997, was promoted to assistant general manager in 2001 and was named general manager in 2006.