Fourteen months after announcing president and CEO Tim Leiweke was leaving, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has finally found a replacement.
The ownership group behind the Maple Leafs, Raptors and Toronto FC announced Thursday that Air Canada executive Michael Friisdahl is the new man in charge.
Friisdahl starts in December.
"Given our unparalleled sports executive and team leadership, MLSE's CEO search focused on the appointment of a seasoned Canadian business executive to lead the organization and we've found exactly what we were looking for in Michael," MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum said in a statement Thursday.
Friisdahl has served as president and chief executive officer of Air Canada's Leisure Group since it was formed in 2012. A wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada, the Leisure Group combined Air Canada Vacations with the low-cost Air Canada Rouge.
Before that, he was CEO of Thomas Cook North America.
Leiweke was appointed CEO of MLSE in April 2013. In August 2014, the organization announced he was leaving to pursue new equity opportunities in the sports and entertainment industry.
Leiweke extended his tenure while the ownership group looked for a new chief executive.
Last week the Miami Herald reported that Leiweke is joining David Beckham's bid to bring Major League Soccer to Miami. Leiweke helped bring the former England captain to MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"On behalf of everyone at MLSE, I sincerely thank Tim for his support for the fans and his many contributions to our organization. We wish him the very best for the future," said Tanenbaum.
Friisdahl has big shoes to fill, although Leiweke began to pull back from the limelight after an enthusiastic entry into the Toronto sports scene.
The Raptors and Toronto FC have made the playoffs on Leiweke's watch. The Maple Leafs remain very much a work in progress, although the hockey team now has a high-powered, all-star management team in charge of the rebuild.
Under Leiweke, BMO Field is in the midst of a $100-million facelift.
With Bill Manning recently put in charge of TFC, Brendan Shanahan running the Leafs and fellow team president Masai Ujiri at the Raptors' helm, MLSE's three major jewels have management in place.
Friisdahl is likely to be charged with growing the business side of the group.
"It is a true privilege to be chosen to lead MLSE, a proudly Canadian sports and entertainment company that rivals any in North America and indeed the world," Friisdahl said in a statement. "As a Torontonian, I'm thrilled by the opportunity to focus all of our resources on supporting the Leafs, Raptors, TFC, Marlies, Raptors 905 (of the D-League) and TFC 2 (of the USL-Pro League), and making Toronto the championship city that our fans deserve.
"We have Toronto FC in the playoffs, Raptors 905 tipping off next month, NBA all-star and the World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre in 2016, Grey Cup 2016 at BMO Field and the 100th anniversary of the Maple Leafs in 2017.
"These are exciting times for Toronto, indeed for all Canadian sports fans, and I'm very proud to be leading the MLSE team that will deliver for them."
MLSE says Friisdahl has more than 25 years of experience in the international leisure travel business and a background in international travel, finance, marketing and sales management, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and business integration.
Tanenbaum said Friisdahl has shown throughout his career "an unwavering commitment to delivering for the customer."
"His focus will be on supporting our fans and our teams while maximizing the potential of MLSE's iconic sports, entertainment and real estate assets."
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