TORONTO – Former CBC Sports head Jeffrey Orridge has been named as the new commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Orridge, pictured, was most recently the executive director of sports and general manager of Olympics for the CBC where he oversaw rights acquisitions, partnership management, revenue initiatives and program execution involving the Corp’s sports properties and digital opportunities, including securing the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, the 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Games, and the 2018 and 2020 Olympics.
Previously, Orridge was COO and head of global business development for the charity Right to Play International, served as VP corporate strategic planning for Mattel Inc., and as director, sport licensing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
“Jeffrey will be a tremendous leader for our league at an exciting time for its future,” said Jim Lawson, chairman of the CFL’s Board of Governors, in the announcement. “He has every skill set our board was looking for and he clearly understands what our league means to this country and what our fans and partners mean to this league.”
“I believe we are living in an age of seemingly limitless possibilities and the opportunities ahead for the Canadian Football League are second to none,” added Orridge, who will officially assume his new duties on April 29.
