MLSE looking for new president and CEO as Michael Friisdahl lands new job

TORONTO - Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure is in search of a brand new president and CEO.

The proprietor of the NHL Leafs, NBA Raptors, CFL Argonauts, AHL Marlies and Main League Soccer’s Toronto FC mentioned Tuesday that Michael Friisdahl, who has served in each roles since December 2015, is leaving on the finish of February to grow to be govt chairman of Signature Aviation, a British-based multinational aviation companies firm.

Chief monetary officer Cynthia Devine has been named interim president and CEO in the course of the seek for Friisdahl’s successor.

“Michael’s management over the previous six years has been extremely vital because the group navigated by way of the highs of our successes and the challenges of managing the unprecedented influence of the COVID-19 pandemic these previous two years,” MLSE chair Larry Tanenbaum mentioned in a press release.

“By all of it, Michael raised the bar in each space of MLSE’s operation, and most significantly, made certain that the group prioritized our management function in the neighborhood together with discovering impactful methods to assist our metropolis and its residents get better from the pandemic.“

Friisdahl isn't any stranger to the journey sector.

Previous to becoming a member of MLSE, he was president and CEO for Air Canada Leisure Journey Group, together with Air Canada Rouge, and CEO of Thomas Cook dinner North America.

“Main this group for the previous six years has been a spotlight of my profession and I'm so happy with the group’s accomplishments and the dedication proven by MLSE workers daily, however particularly in the course of the challenges of the previous two years,” Friisdahl mentioned in a press release.

MLSE declined additional remark Tuesday.

Friisdahl has confronted no scarcity of challenges throughout his time in control of the sports activities and leisure conglomerate.

Foremost amongst them has been the pandemic. MLSE has needed to relocate groups, preserve workers secure and adapt to ever-changing schedules and circumstances.

MLSE gained kudos within the early days of the pandemic in 2020, turning Scotiabank Area into an enormous kitchen to arrange and donate lots of of hundreds of meals to front-line staff and neighborhood companies.

Friisdahl additionally had large footwear to fill in following the larger-than-life Tim Leiweke. Not like Leiweke, Friisdahl has been content material to work behind the scenes and keep out of the highlight.

Championships have come throughout his tenure — Toronto FC, Argonauts and Raptors 905 (NBA G League) in 2017, the Marlies in 2018 and Raptors in 2019.

Friisdahl deflected any reward to the groups’ administration, MLSE’s possession and people who got here earlier than him.

“We’re centered on profitable. Our groups are centered on profitable and our possession is concentrated on profitable,” he mentioned in 2019. “My job could be very a lot to assist the groups, give them the instruments, make certain we make investments the place we have to make investments. Their job is to verify we win.”

Friisdahl was born in Denmark however got here to Canada when he was 13. Initially based mostly in Vancouver, he has been in Toronto since 1985.

Devine joined MLSE in April 2017 from RioCan Actual Property Funding Belief the place she had served as CFO. From 2003 to 2014, Devine was CFO at Tim Hortons Inc. following govt positions at Maple Leaf Meals and Pepsi-Cola Canada.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 18, 2022