Andrew Messick, head of AEG Sports, which owns and produces the Amgen Tour of California, has just been named CEO of World Triathlon Corporation, owner of the Ironman-branded multisport events.

Messick had been the president of AEG Sports since 2007, where he founded and grew the Amgen Tour of California to be one of the world's premier cycling races. He leaves his post a week after this year's edition of the popular stage race concluded.

Messick joins a company built in recent years by its president, Ben Fertic. Fertic helped engineer the sale of WTC to venture capital group Providence Equity Partners from the Gills family—which bought the Ironman in 1989 from Valerie Silk. Fertic helped grow the company, under Providence Equity Partners' ownership, from 5 employees to 250, and from two company-owned races to a calendar of events that numbers in the hundreds.

Messick, 47, is no stranger to triathlons, having competed in both Ironman Lake Placid and Canada (PR of 11:07). He will move to Tampa full time to run the company.

While Messick will take the company's helm, Fertic will remain aboard in the capacity of president, focusing on business development. He'll also continue to serve on WTC's board of directors.

Messick will formally start his new job of the 5th of July.