2017 - 2020 // Director of Communications

Canadian Olympic Committee

 

Responsibilities

• Main media spokesperson for the organization in both English and French.

• Lead the Issues Management Team (IMT) in all communications matters.

• Direct media appearances, news conferences, media training for COC leaders and athletes; Strategic messaging and the production of communications materials including speeches, press releases and media advisories.

• Monitor political, legislative and societal issues affecting the COC and formulate strategies to produce an effective public relations presence/reaction.

• Advise leadership on issues management and public relations policy.

• Lead the planning of Games communications including building a media protocol and victory management plan.

• Communications Chief for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, 2019 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, PanAmerican Games in Lima, Peru and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

• Manage the Toronto and Montreal based communications staff.

• Head of translation services for the organization.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with media, sponsors, consultants and National Sport Federations to successfully execute campaigns and programs.​

• Establish a corporate communications strategy with thought leadership to CEO and President.

• Direct Agency work with Weber Shandwick, National, Sid Lee, North and GSM Project.

• Lead Five Eyes communications team between the National Olympic Committees of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States.

• Lead the Bidding and Hosting Strategy for a future Games in Canada.

• Lead Core Funding Communications Strategy.

 

Results

• Acted as a spokesperson organizing and executing both opening and closing press conferences resulting 95% positive or neutral ratings.

• Led the communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee’s decision to not attend the 2020 Tokyo Olympics because of COVID-19 concerns which resulted in Team Canada being ranked the number one sports brand in the country according to the Brand Index Report.

• Generated consistently an average of 5.7 billions media impressions or the equivalent of $19M in ad value every year.

• Oversaw the translation of 1.2 million words per year.

• Managed 2 CEO transition strategy and communications plans.

• Spearheaded CBC collaboration to negotiate integration of public broadcaster inside Canada Olympic House for the first time.

• Led communications strategy for National Sport Organizations with a 95% satisfaction rate from Communications leads.

• Conducted over 40 team announcements from coast-to-coast resulting in close to 1 billion media impressions over 3 years.

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2011 – 2017 // Director of Communications

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

 

Responsibilities

• Oversee bilingual communications for the League and 18 member teams across Quebec and the Maritime provinces and all national events, including:

  • ​CIBC Canada Russia Series, Sherwin-Williams Top Prospects Game and MasterCard Memorial Cup.

  • Management of a team of over 100 volunteers during events;

• Creation and execution of 3 year strategic and tactical communications plans;

• Negotiation and purchase of all communications inventory;

• Supervising/Executive Producer of QMJHL Media:

  • Produce content for network television and web broadcasts including: 24/7 reality show, Magazine show, features, player profiles, human interest pieces.

• Management of full time staff members, over 20 contractual workers and 18 team communications directors;

• Crisis management;

• Official spokesperson of the organization and MC for press conference;

• Media training for executives, spokespeople and players;

• Liaison with Hockey Canada;

• Oversee Annual Media Guide, writing and approving press releases accreditation requests;

• Strategic labour management communications;

• Oversee / Negotiate website and statistical platform providers.

 

Results

• Creation of a social responsibility report, financial impact report and annual media guide.

• Negotiation of a 12-year multi-million dollar multi-platform television broadcasting rights agreement with Sportsnet and TVA Sports; Biggest television agreement in League history.

• Production of weekly television magazine show on two Canadian Networks, increasing television ratings by 10% and acquiring a bigger market share.

• Creation of Spokesperson’s handbook, Media & Social Media Policies and Ambassadors Club.

• Relaunch of complete website platform and stats platform.

• Implementation of an internal communications app for players/parents/staff/league.

• Increased television exposure by 85% in 5 years.

• Raising press box and media protocol standards to maintain consistency in 18 markets.

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2008 – 2011 // Pedagogical and New Media Consultant

Bombardier Aerospace

 

Responsibilities​

• Oversee new technology platforms and create and implement core-curriculum programme;

• Define pedagogical orientation of Bombardier’s continued education department;

• Promote employees based on their competencies and proficiencies in the learning process

 

Results

• Set benchmarks in creating core-curricula that other companies such as Air Canada used as a model for their programmes.

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2008 – 2009 // Location Manager, Events (contract)

National Hockey League

 

Responsibilities

• Oversee the location of the 2009 All-Star Game; NHL’s marquee event;

• Plan All-Star events: banquet dinner, sponsor event, governors events, fan fest, Hockey Hall of Fame, VIP rooms, skills competition and All-Star game;

• Book venues, hire staff and Recruit and organize over 800 volunteers;

• Oversee multimillion dollar budget for the event;

• Approve marketing and advertising creative;

• Management of 2 full time direct staff members.

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Results

• To date, the most attended All-Star game in the history of the NHL.

• Record number journalists present, over 500, for an NHL event.

• Collaborated with the Montreal Canadiens in marking the 100th anniversary of the organization a resounding success through ticket sales.

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2007 // Filmmaker and journalist // ERT World « Showdown at the top of the world » (contract)

 

2006 – 2008 // Various Positions // McGill University

• Director, 150th anniversary of Faculty of Education; 2007;

• Director, mProject (Youth and New Media); 2006 – 2008;

• Instructor, “Media, Technology and Education”; 2006 –2008.

 

 

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2005 // Post Production coordinator “How William Shatner Changed the World” // Handel Productions

 

 

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2004 – 2008 // Instructor “Media Aesthetics » & « Television Aesthetics” // Concordia University

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1999 – 2004 // Various Radio-Television positions

• CTV, HP Productions, Host and editor; 2004 – 2006;

• Global TV, Freelance Camera Operator; 2003 – 2004;

• CINQ-FM, Host, Production Coordinator; 1999 – 2006;

• CIBL-FM, Host; 1999 – 2006;

• Regroupement des Aveugles et Amblyopes du Montréal Métropolitain; Montréal, Québec
  Public Relations Consultant (contract); 2001 – 2004.