Mark Cohon named CFL commissioner

Mar 28, 2007, 19:50 GMT

Toronto, ON - The Canadian Football League Wednesday named Mark Cohon the 12th commissioner of the league.

'On behalf of the Board, I am extremely pleased to announce Mark Cohon as the new Commissioner of the Canadian Football League,' said league board of governors' chair Gene Dunn. 'Mark has a great track record in sports and business development and brings the right experience, energy and perspective to help ensure we build on the League's current success and continue to drive the business forward.'

Cohon has 15 years of sports marketing, business development, ticketing sponsorship and television sales. Most recently, he was the vice president of business development with the NBA.

'I am absolutely thrilled about this opportunity and look forward to leading one of Canada's oldest and most treasured traditions. Very few times in life do chances like this come up and I can't wait to get started,' said Cohon.

Managing multi-million dollar sponsorships, Cohon previously was the director of corporate and game development for MLB International where he was responsible for generating revenues and brand exposure.

'We were impressed with Mark's proven ability to build brands and grow revenues,' Dunn said. 'This combined with his determination and passion for sport will be a great asset to the CFL as we continue to look for new ways to enhance our game, grow our business and provide CFL fans with the very best of what our game has to offer.'

Cohon was the president and CEO of AudienceView software, a global sports, arts and entertainment software company, and has also served as the chief development officer at Petopia Inc.

Tom Wright stepped down as commissioner of the CFL after the 2006 season. Wright was the CFL's commissioner since November 2002.

The CFL is the second-most watched sport in Canada, behind only the NHL, and Wright's team was credited with bringing renewed energy to the CFL brand, building integrated strategic partnerships with corporate Canada and introducing a new salary management system to the league.

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