Canadian Olympic Committee Grows Marketing Team

Former VANOC Executive, Dennis Kim, Brought on to Lead Brand Marketing

TORONTO, Aug. 16 /CNW/ - Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Operating Officer, Chris Overholt, today announced the appointment of Dennis Kim as Executive Director, Brand Marketing. Based out of the corporate headquarters in Toronto, Kim will report to Overholt starting on August 23.

An experienced sports industry professional, with a passion for strategic brand marketing and innovative consumer activations, Kim has worked in senior marketing leadership roles with both the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.

"We are proud to welcome Dennis to our Team," said Overholt. "As the COC moves forward in the post-Vancouver era and looks to build on the outstanding legacy left by the Games, Dennis' experience with VANOC will be a key element in continuing to build a strong Olympic brand within Canada."

Most recently, Kim managed a team of professionals responsible for the strategic brand marketing plan for the retail licensing and merchandise program for the Vancouver 2010 Games; the country's largest ever sporting event merchandise program. This program included the execution of the largest ever Canadian Olympic consumer product fundraising initiative: the Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens, a program that sold an unprecedented 3.5 million units.

"Following my experience with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, I'm extremely grateful to be given a new opportunity to help elevate sport in Canada, allow Canadians to demonstrate pride through athletic performance and ultimately work on behalf of our country's finest athletes," said Kim.

In his new role, he will be responsible for all aspects of brand integration across key marketing platforms. He will serve as the primary lead in such disciplines as partner asset integration, market research, merchandise and licensing, digital media, and broadcast relations. Working closely with the Marketing Partnerships department, Kim will assist with the design and implementation of key partnership activation platforms in areas of retail sales promotion, event planning and execution, digital and social media integration executions.

About the Canadian Olympic Committee

The Canadian Olympic Committee is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada's involvement in the Olympic Movement, including Canada's participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For news and information, visit the COC website at www.olympic.ca and find the team on both Facebook (Canadian Olympic Team) and Twitter (@CDN OlympicTeam).

For further information: Isabelle Hodge, Manager, Media Relations, Canadian Olympic Committee, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]