Meet the New Boss

[bluto]

 

Per CFL.ca

 

Quote

TORONTO – Stewart Johnston has spent his entire professional career connecting viewers with the news, sports and entertainment that they love. On countless occasions, he has given Canadians from coast to coast to coast a reason to stand and cheer for their heroes.

The longtime Bell Media executive will now focus that wealth of insight and experience on building his vision for the Canadian Football League (CFL) as its 15th Commissioner.

“I am deeply humbled and profoundly honoured by this incredible opportunity,” said Commissioner Johnston. “Long before I worked with TSN and RDS to broadcast the CFL, I was a fan. Growing up, I sat with family and friends, watching the legends of the game. I’ve loved working closely with this league, getting to know its stars and being a part of the most unforgettable celebration in Canadian sports – Grey Cup Week. To think that I will present that iconic trophy to this year’s winners in Winnipeg this November is a dream come true.”

Johnston was born in Toronto and grew up in Ottawa. He graduated from Queen’s University with a business degree. In 1997, his passion for sports led him to the doors of TSN. Over the next two-and-a-half decades, he rose through the ranks of Canada’s Sports Leader to President, growing the company into the sports media juggernaut it is today. A football fanatic, he has a deep understanding of the tremendous fandom that flows throughout the Canadian sporting community.

Johnston is a seasoned and successful sports rights negotiator with intimate knowledge of content distribution strategies and key relationships across major distribution partners. His experience includes leadership of a national advertising sales team with over 1,000 employees. He revolutionized the process of media buying by combining industry-leading data with the massive reach of Bell Media’s platforms.

As Senior Vice-President, Content and Sales at Bell Media, Johnston translated more than 25 years of knowledge gained in every facet of the sporting landscape into content development across all English- and French-language video, audio and digital platforms for Bell Media’s extensive range of assets, including Canada’s No. 1 broadcast network, CTV; the largest-Canadian-owned video streaming service, Crave; as well as TSN and RDS, Noovo, Bell Media Studios and iHeartRadio Canada.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Stewart as our next Commissioner,” said Scott Banda, Chair of the CFL Board of Governors. “What he has built at Bell Media is nothing short of remarkable. His in-depth familiarity with sports business in Canada and his lengthy history of success in the media industry and as an executive, made him the ideal candidate for Commissioner.”

As Banda and the Board look ahead to the future of the league, they also recognize the hard work and contributions of the 14th Commissioner of the CFL, Randy Ambrosie, who will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the league office until Johnston officially takes on the role beginning April 24.

“On behalf of the Canadian football community, I’d like to extend our gratitude to Randy,” said Banda. “Over the past seven-and-a-half years, he laid an extremely solid foundation for our game and league. It is on that bedrock that we now entrust Stewart with the task of taking the CFL to new heights.”

Looking ahead, Johnston sees unlimited possibilities to honour the league’s past, while setting the stage for the next generation of fans and players.

“It’s been wonderful to see how far the league has come, with special thanks to Randy’s stewardship,” added the new Commissioner. “But it’s the future that excites me. It’s what’s to come that inspires me. As we look ahead, our mission is clear: to grow the game of football, to enhance the entertainment experience for our fans, and to ensure the sustainability and success of our league for generations to come.”

Johnston will be formally introduced as the 15th Commissioner of the CFL at a media conference later this month.

The league will welcome the next wave of Canadian talent at the CFL Draft on April 29. Training camps will open on May 11 before the preseason gets underway on May 19. The season kicks off June 5 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

 

Edited yesterday at 01:18 PM by bluto

[HardCoreBlue]

Will there be a passing of the scarf ceremony?

As always, I'll show myself out.

[Super Duper Negatron]

My brow of skepticism is furrowed.

[Piggy 1]

I thought Suitor was the front runner.....:)

[Fatty Liver]

40 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

My brow of skepticism is furrowed.

Ex Bell executive, consolidating power in the city that doesn't care.

[Goalie]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Johnston
 

He seems like a solid choice honestly 

[bluto]

39 minutes ago, Goalie said:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Johnston
 

He seems like a solid choice honestly 

Yeah.

If yesterday someone told me that Bell Media had one SVP of both Content and Sales it would've raised my eyebrows since those are the the two biggest and most important departments at a massive media company. I would've replied to the person who informed me of Bell Media having just one guy as the point man for those "Impressive. That man must be an ace."

If they then said that they wondered if the CFL could ever get that guy to head up the league, I'd have expressed great doubt at the possibility.

Good get. 

Edited yesterday at 05:04 PM by bluto

[Noeller]

Alarm bells ring heavily for me seeing "TSN President Is New CFL Commissioner"..... But, as always, some context is appreciated. He does seem like a smart guy, at least....

[JuranBoldenRules]

I don't believe there's a line of people willing to take the job.

Generally though, Bell is flailing badly with TSN being a core part of their problems.  Have been hearing for awhile they are trying to auction off bits of NFL rights just to get a little cash because they are having such issues.  Obviously a position the CFL and it's fans are quite familiar with over the past 50 years.

Maybe this is the guy.  But, low public profile, kind of a meh Jeffery Orridge/Garth Buchko style inside hire.  I am whelmed.

[GCn20]

I really don't mind a TV guy coming in as commissioner. His prowess in that field should serve the CFL well as we look to expand our exposure in the USA.

[Stickem]

All I know is never judge a man by the thickness of his hair.....He might be just what the league needs.....proof will be in the puddin' though

[bluto]

1 hour ago, Stickem said:

All I know is never judge a man by the thickness of his hair.....He might be just what the league needs.....proof will be in the puddin' though

I have two pals who are of Turkish descent and that is precisely how they judge a man.

[Pete Catan's Ghost]

6 minutes ago, bluto said:

I have two pals who are of Turkish descent and that is precisely how they judge a man.

I once found a swarthy hair in my moussaka. The proof was, indeed, in the pudding.

[wbbfan]

10 hours ago, Goalie said:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Johnston
 

He seems like a solid choice honestly 

I think he’s a high level business side guy for this position. 
 

I do have concerns though with the fact he has no experience running a league or team, in football, and that his tsn ties could be a conflict of interest with the upcoming tv deal renewal. Maybe for us maybe for them.  I don’t know. 
 

Jbr summed it up perfectly. In whelmed. I don’t think many people want the commish job. 

[SpeedFlex27]

6 hours ago, wbbfan said:

I think he’s a high level business side guy for this position. 
 

I do have concerns though with the fact he has no experience running a league or team, in football, and that his tsn ties could be a conflict of interest with the upcoming tv deal renewal. Maybe for us maybe for them.  I don’t know. 
 

Jbr summed it up perfectly. In whelmed. I don’t think many people want the commish job. 

I think running a league is a bit different than running a football team & he did run TSN, so there's that. After Ambrosie, I have very little confidence that the guy they hired really will or won't do a good job. I feel the same way you do, wbbfan. But I'm willing to give the new guy a chance.

I'm just thinking that no one could be as bad as Scarf Boy. Hopefully, the Halifax expansion BS is over. I'm expecting the new Commissioner to look for ways to increase revenues for the league as well as grow the game. And to not lie to fans & media just to make himself look good which is what Ambrosie did constantly. He had lost all his credibility. 

Edited 9 hours ago by SpeedFlex27