Hirshland picked to head USOC

The U.S. Olympic Committee on Thursday named a new chief executive to succeed Scott Blackmun, who stepped down under pressure in February as the organization faced escalating pressure in the aftermath of the Nassar gymnastics sex abuse case.

The group’s new leader is Sarah Hirshland, an executive with the U.S. Golf Association.

Blackmun and the USOC encountered heavy criticism after athletes and lawmakers said the organization did not intervene despite learning about possible sexual misconduct by Dr. Larry Nassar in the summer of 2015, a year before the accusations became public. At least two Olympic gymnasts have sued the USOC for its handling of the Nassar case.

Susanne Lyons had been serving as interim Sarah Hirshland, a former executive at the U.S. Golf Association, was hired as CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee on Thursday. director since Blackmun’s resignation.

Hirshland was the USGA’s chief commercial officer, in charge of merchandising, communication and marketing. Before that she was an executive at Wasserman Media Group, the talent agency and sportsmarketing company whose founder, Casey Wasserman, led the bid for Los Angeles to host the Summer Olympics and is chairman of the group that will run the 2028 Games.

‘‘I do have a close relationship with Casey,’’ Hirshland said. ‘‘We have a great working relationship.’’

Regarding the fallout from the sex-assault revelations, she said: ‘‘I recognize the challenges ahead. I think the most important thing in the world is to be a strong listener. That’s what it takes to guide a cultural transition that we must continue.’’

She declined to say specifically what she would do to help the organization get past the Nassar scandal. ‘‘I am not yet into the details of all the protocols that have been put in place,’’ she said.

The USOC had defended its actions in the Nassar case, saying it followed proper procedures and deferred to law enforcement. But The New York Times identified at least 40 girls and women who said that Nassar molested them between July 2015 and September 2016, when he was exposed publicly by The Indianapolis Star.

The Olympic committee has taken the position that it is responsible for athletes only from when they are named to the Olympic team to the end of the games.

Nassar has been sentenced for multiple sex crimes and is very likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. His case also led to the resignation of Steve Penny, the head of USA Gymnastics, as well as the chairman and entire board of directors of the organization. It also prompted the resignation of Lou Anna Simon, president of Michigan State, where Nassar worked and where he sexually abused many of his patients.

‘‘We think we have selected the very best candidate for this very important position,’’ said the Olympic committee’s chairman, Larry Probst.