CV
PHOTI SOTIROPOULOS
Twenty years of experience in communication, government relations, sports management, culture, and broadcasting; specializing in public relations, issues management, team supervision, project management and special events. Involved in provincial, national and international committees. English and French spoken, read and written (perfectly bilingual).





2017 - 2020 // Director of Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
Responsibilities
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Main media spokesperson for the organization in both English and French.
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Lead the Issues Management Team (IMT) in all communications matters.
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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.
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Monitor political, legislative and societal issues affecting the COC and formulate strategies to produce an effective public relations presence/reaction.
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Advise leadership on issues management and public relations policy.
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Lead the planning of Games communications including building a media protocol and victory management plan.
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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.
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Manage the Toronto and Montreal based communications staff.
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Head of translation services for the organization.
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Build and maintain productive relationships with media, sponsors, consultants and National Sport Federations to successfully execute campaigns and programs.
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Establish a corporate communications strategy with thought leadership to CEO and President.
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Direct Agency work with Weber Shandwick, National, Sid Lee, North and GSM Project.
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Lead Five Eyes communications team between the National Olympic Committees of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States.
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Lead the Bidding and Hosting Strategy for a future Games in Canada.
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Lead Core Funding Communications Strategy.
Results
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Acted as a spokesperson organizing and executing both opening and closing press conferences resulting 95% positive or neutral ratings.
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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.
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Generated consistently an average of 5.7 billions media impressions or the equivalent of $19M in ad value every year.
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Oversaw the translation of 1.2 million words per year.
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Managed 2 CEO transition strategy and communications plans.
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Spearheaded CBC collaboration to negotiate integration of public broadcaster inside Canada Olympic House for the first time.
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Led communications strategy for National Sport Organizations with a 95% satisfaction rate from Communications leads.
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Conducted over 40 team announcements from coast-to-coast resulting in close to 1 billion media impressions over 3 years.
2011 – 2017 // Director of Communications
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Responsibilities
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Oversee bilingual communications for the League and 18 member teams across Quebec and the Maritime provinces and all national events, including:
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CIBC Canada Russia Series, Sherwin-Williams Top Prospects Game and MasterCard Memorial Cup.
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Management of a team of over 100 volunteers during events;
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Creation and execution of 3 year strategic and tactical communications plans;
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Negotiation and purchase of all communications inventory;
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Supervising/Executive Producer of QMJHL Media:
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Produce content for network television and web broadcasts including: 24/7 reality show, Magazine show, features, player profiles, human interest pieces.
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Management of full time staff members, over 20 contractual workers and 18 team communications directors;
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Crisis management;
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Official spokesperson of the organization and MC for press conference;
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Media training for executives, spokespeople and players;
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Liaison with Hockey Canada;
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Oversee Annual Media Guide, writing and approving press releases accreditation requests;
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Strategic labour management communications;
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Oversee / Negotiate website and statistical platform providers.
Results
- Creation of a social responsibility report, financial impact report and annual media guide.
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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.
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Production of weekly television magazine show on two Canadian Networks, increasing television ratings by 10% and acquiring a bigger market share.
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Creation of Spokesperson’s handbook, Media & Social Media Policies and Ambassadors Club.
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Relaunch of complete website platform and stats platform.
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Implementation of an internal communications app for players/parents/staff/league.
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Increased television exposure by 85% in 5 years.
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Raising press box and media protocol standards to maintain consistency in 18 markets.
2008 – 2011 // Pedagogical and New Media Consultant
Bombardier Aerospace
Responsibilities
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Oversee new technology platforms and create and implement core-curriculum programme;
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Define pedagogical orientation of Bombardier’s continued education department;
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Promote employees based on their competencies and proficiencies in the learning process
Results
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Set benchmarks in creating core-curricula that other companies such as Air Canada used as a model for their programmes.
2008 – 2009 // Location Manager, Events (contract)
National Hockey League
Responsibilities
- Oversee the location of the 2009 All-Star Game; NHL’s marquee event;
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Plan All-Star events: banquet dinner, sponsor event, governors events, fan fest, Hockey Hall of Fame, VIP rooms, skills competition and All-Star game;
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Book venues, hire staff and Recruit and organize over 800 volunteers;
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Oversee multimillion dollar budget for the event;
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Approve marketing and advertising creative;
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Management of 2 full time direct staff members.
Results
- To date, the most attended All-Star game in the history of the NHL.
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Record number journalists present, over 500, for an NHL event.
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Collaborated with the Montreal Canadiens in marking the 100th anniversary of the organization a resounding success through ticket sales.
2007 // Filmmaker and journalist // ERT World « Showdown at the top of the world » (contract)
2006 – 2008 // Various Positions // McGill University
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Director, 150th anniversary of Faculty of Education; 2007;
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Director, mProject (Youth and New Media); 2006 – 2008;
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Instructor, “Media, Technology and Education”; 2006 –2008.
2005 // Post Production coordinator “How William Shatner Changed the World” // Handel Productions
2004 – 2008 // Instructor “Media Aesthetics » & « Television Aesthetics” // Concordia University
1999 – 2004 // Various Radio-Television positions
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CTV, HP Productions, Host and editor; 2004 – 2006;
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Global TV, Freelance Camera Operator; 2003 – 2004;
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CINQ-FM, Host, Production Coordinator; 1999 – 2006;
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CIBL-FM, Host; 1999 – 2006;
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Regroupement des Aveugles et Amblyopes du Montréal Métropolitain; Montréal, Québec
Public Relations Consultant (contract); 2001 – 2004.
Education
MA, Culture and Values in Education (ABD) “New Media” concentration, McGill University;
BA, Bachelor’s with distinction, Specialization in Communication Studies, Concordia University;
DEC, Arts et Lettres Conservatoire Lassalle.
Technical Knowledge
Word & Data: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access.
Web: CMS, Dreamweaver, HTML, PHP, XML, CSS, JSON.
Graphic/Audio/Video: Photoshop, Illustrator, QuarkXPress, Amadeus Pro, Final Cut Pro, Audition, DaVinci Resolve, Avid, Sony Vegas, Premiere Pro.