Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment‘s new CEO Tim Lieweke has announced a restructuring of the company’s executive team that includes several major promotions and departures.
David Hopkinson
Among the changes, David Hopkinson, former senior vice-president of global partnerships and marketing, will become chief commercial officer – previously a vacant position in the company. Hopkinson’s team will include three new vice-presidents with expanded portfolios: Shannon Hosford, VP marketing and communications; Jeff Deline, VP global partnerships; and Tim Pistore, VP ticket sales and service.
Brian Cooper, CEO of S&E Sponsorship Group, who works closely with MLSE and was once a VP of the company, said that the changes aren’t drastic or unexpected. “For the most part, they kept their senior management team, on an operational basis, intact,” he said. “I think they kept their culture intact as well, to a certain degree.”
Here’s what MLSE’s new c-suite will look like:
• Tom Anselmi, chief operating officer
• Ian Clarke, chief financial officer
• David Hopkinson, chief commercial officer
• Peter Miller, chief legal and development officer
• Bob Hunter, chief facilities and live entertainment officer
Anselmi and Clarke remain in same roles they served under previous MLSE leadership, while Miller was promoted from VP, general counsel and corporate secretary, and Hunter was promoted from EVP, venues and entertainment.
Those leaving the company include Beth Robertson, SVP, ticket sales and service, Mardi Walker, VP, people, and Chris Hebb, SVP content and communications. The departure of Hebb, who was in charge of digital specialty channels Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and GolTV Canada, marks a significant shift in direction for the company’s broadcast strategy, likely influenced by majority owners BCE and Rogers Communications.
“Chris is a great broadcast person, but 75% of the equity in the organization is owned by two of the largest telecoms in the country, so I think they have some efficiencies there,” said Cooper.
Former CEO Richard Peddie told The Globe and Mail that Hebb’s role involved “keeping the big TV companies honest” about rights fees. Peddie said there were plans to build a “big box” sports network called Real Sports that would be similar to the New York Yankees YES Network, but the telecoms’ majority purchase of MLSE last year changed the company’s direction.
Lieweke has made other significant changes since he took office in April, most notably firing Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo. He also ruffled some feathers with his stated intention of shifting focus away from the Toronto Maple Leafs’ legacy to focus on the present.
MLSE, a $2.25-billion company, owns the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC, and Toronto Marlies; operates and manages Ricoh Coliseum and BMO Field; and has additional investments in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium and the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence.
