Marko Pesic to step down as CEO of Bayern Munich Basketball Club

FC Bayern Basketball is restructuring its leadership and expanding its executive management for the upcoming season: After nearly 15 years at the helm of the six-time German champion, Marko Pesic will, at his own request, step down from his position as CEO at the beginning of the 2026 calendar year. The 48-year-old former national team player will continue to be involved with the club thereafter. To ensure a smooth transition, FCBB will expand its management board as of July 1, 2025, by appointing current Sporting Director Dragan Tarlac and Chief Strategy Officer Adrian Sarmiento. Starting in January 2026, both will assume full joint responsibility for the club’s operational management.
Marko Pesic, who joined Bayern Basketball in the 2011/2012 season as Sporting Director and took over as CEO in January 2013, will support the club in an advisory role beginning in 2026—fulfilling a request from Club President Herbert Hainer.

“FC Bayern is immensely grateful to Marko for everything he has accomplished here,” said Club President Hainer. “He has developed the club into a top-level organization on all fronts and has brought it to where it stands today: at the top of European basketball. Thanks to his passion, tireless dedication, and expertise, FC Bayern Basketball enjoys the highest respect across the European sports landscape. On this strong foundation, we can now shape the transition with confidence that Dragan Tarlac and Adrian Sarmiento, as an ideal duo, will successfully continue the work. Marko will accompany this handover into proven hands and, fortunately, remain closely connected to us even beyond that.”

Marko Pesic, who has celebrated four German championships and four cup titles with FCBB, stated: “After a very long and intense journey, and following careful consideration—especially after very trusting conversations about the club’s future with Herbert Hainer—I have decided to step down from my role as CEO on January 1. Together, we’ve built a club that is now ready to continue growing from within, even without me. Looking back, I’m simply grateful to have been given the opportunity, at the age of 34, to take on so much responsibility for such a significant organization. Bayern Basketball is now excellently positioned—with a dedicated organization, a modernized BMW Park, and the spectacular SAP Garden as part of its structure. My job is done, and now it’s time for others to take responsibility. I’ve known Dragan and Adrian for a long time—they, together with our staff, will lead the club into the future. I’ll remain closely connected to the club beyond January 1, just no longer in this role.”

Since the spin-off into FC Bayern München Basketball GmbH in October 2014, Pesic had served as Managing Director of Sports, and from May 2019, he held sole CEO responsibility. As Sporting Director, he had already led the professionalized basketball department—following the 2010 members’ resolution—to its first BBL title in 2014. Other milestones during his tenure include the club becoming the only German A-license EuroLeague team and shareholder in August 2021, the installation of the world’s largest fixed LED glass court floor in BMW Park, and the opening of the SAP Garden in October 2024. The FCBB office now has over 70 employees.

“I’m convinced that FC Bayern Basketball has developed into one of the most professional clubs in Europe over the past decade,” emphasized President Hainer. “Even the simultaneous move into the SAP Garden and continued operations and marketing of BMW Park is an incredible achievement—one Marko accomplished together with the office team. Sportingly, the club also progressed steadily under his leadership, despite setbacks. But the overarching perspective and direction were always clear: forward, upward, onward. Dragan and Adrian will carry that legacy forward. They stand for continuity and reliability.”

Dragan Tarlac has served as FCBB's Sporting Director since August 2024. Prior to that, he was Team Director of the Serbian national team, which won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Tarlac competed in the 2000 Olympic Games himself. After beginning his career at Red Star Belgrade, the center played eight seasons with Olympiacos Piraeus, winning five Greek championships, two national cups, and the EuroLeague in 1997. He later played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and also with Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow. His international career highlights include a bronze medal at EuroBasket 1999 and a EuroBasket championship in 2001 with the then-Yugoslav national team.

After his playing career, Tarlac worked for the Serbian basketball federation, served as an NBA ambassador, was a member of FIBA's Youth Commission, and eventually became Serbia's Sporting Director.
Adrian Sarmiento, 38, will complete the CEO duo in July 2025 as Commercial Managing Director. Born in Munich, he has been familiar with the club since before its professionalization, starting his involvement in 2008 within the internal organization of the FCB e.V. basketball department.

Active during that time also as a player and youth coach, Sarmiento completed his Bachelor of Science in Sports Science and Master’s in Sports Management and Marketing before moving through the core departments of the then-start-up BBL organization—soon taking on leadership roles. In FCBB GmbH, he served as Head of Sponsoring and Sales starting in 2014, later becoming Chief Business Officer, and in 2023, Chief Strategy Officer. Sarmiento was co-lead on the SAP Garden project alongside Pesic and FCB e.V. Managing Director Benny Folkmann. He also already represents the club on the EuroLeague board.