Jeff Berding is President and Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, who, with Carl H. Lindner III, founded the club as a USL franchise in 2015. With three seasons of record-setting success on and off the field in the USL, Berding led the club’s expansion efforts that successfully resulted in the club’s ascension to Major League Soccer for the 2019 season, the opening of TQL Stadium in 2021 and the team’s Supporters’ Shield victory in 2023.

Prior to founding FCC, Berding spent more than 19 years as an executive with the Cincinnati Bengals where he led the Sales and Public Affairs efforts for the NFL team. He was elected to three At-Large terms and served six years on the Cincinnati City Council.

Berding has a long history of leadership in his community, including roles as President of FCC Foundation; Chairman of Visit Cincy, the local visitors’ bureau; Co-Chair of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee; and serving on the Board of Trustees for the Cincinnati Art Museum, St. Xavier High School and Xavier University. Berding has volunteered with the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce for 20+ years. He has been the recipient of numerous civic awards, including a spot among the top 100 leaders in history of the local United Way; the 2006 “40 Under 40” from the Cincinnati Business Courier; featured at the 2018 Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA’s Annual Gala; awarded the 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2024 CEO of the Year.

He is a fifth-generation Cincinnatian, born and raised in Westwood where he attended St. Xavier High School. He graduated cum laude from Miami University and earned his MBA from Xavier University with honors.