NEW YORK - NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today that Heidi Ueberroth, President, NBA International, will be leaving the NBA after a nearly 20-year career, effective at the end of 2013.

During her tenure at the league, Ueberroth has been instrumental in the global growth of the NBA, leading its operations outside of the United States, which has led to a ten-fold increase in international revenues, the opening of 13 international offices, and the broadcasting of the league's games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages. Following her departure, Ueberroth will consult for the NBA serving as a Senior Advisor on international matters.

"Heidi has been a key participant in the NBA's global expansion for nearly two decades," said Stern. "We are grateful for her extraordinary contribution during her distinguished NBA career, and are fortunate that she will be available to us for consultation on continuing the global growth of our game and business."

As President, NBA International, Ueberroth oversees the league's international business activities across television and digital media, marketing partnerships, consumer products, events, marketing communications, and new business initiatives. She played a central role in the formation of NBA China, an entity that conducts all of the league's business in Greater China. She serves on NBA China's Board of Directors and was instrumental in securing strategic partnerships with the Bank of China, Legend Holdings, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, China Merchants Bank, and ESPN.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver added: "I understand Heidi's desire to seek a new challenge at this point in her impressive career but will miss working with her on a daily basis. Her extraordinary knowledge of the NBA's global endeavors and her extensive experience as the leader of our international business will be sorely missed. I'm appreciative that she's agreed to stay on for the next several months to assist us with the transition."

"It has been an incredible privilege to have worked at the NBA, and I'm grateful to our owners, David, and Adam for their support throughout my career," said Ueberroth. "I am particularly proud of the team of more than 300 NBA colleagues now based in our offices throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America – they are a skilled group that is unparalleled in professional sports. At this point, I have accomplished everything I had ever hoped to for the NBA and, with this great management team now in place, I know it is the right time for me to explore what else I can do."

Prior to joining the NBA in 1994, Ueberroth served in sales and programming roles at ESPN and Ohlmeyer Communications Co. based in New York and Paris. Ueberroth's career accomplishments have led to numerous honors, including being named to Business Week's list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Sports and similar distinctions from the American Advertising Federation, Advertising Age, and Sports Business Journal. She is a Director of the Pebble Beach Company and of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, and is a trustee of the Cancer Research Institute.