Canadian Olympic Committee Introduces New Executive Leadership Team

Long-time Director General of Speed Skating Canada, Jean R. Dupré, takes over CEO and Secretary General role. Chris Overholt returns to Canada as the new COO/CMO after several years with Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers.

TORONTO, April 19 /CNW/ - The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) today announced its new executive leadership team. COC President-Elect, Marcel Aubut, introduced Jean R. Dupré as the organization's Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General and Chris Overholt as its new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer.

"We were looking for two individuals with unique skill sets and a strong passion for sport," said Aubut. "We have inherited a precious legacy from the 2010 Games, and wanted to ensure that both roles were filled by highly experienced professionals that continue the COC upon its upward trajectory. We have a dynamic team, solid on all fronts, ready to deliver upon the compelling vision we have set for the COC.

"In working with our national sport federations, athletes, coaches, corporate and government partners, we aim to make Canada a leading sport nation. With combined decades of solid business, marketing and revenue generation, and sport administration experience, Jean and Chris have the passion and acumen to help the Canadian Olympic Team become the number one sport franchise in Canada."

A native of St. Jovite, Que., Dupré spent 15 years as the Director General of one of the country's most successful National Sports Federations, Speed Skating Canada (SSC). During his tenure, SSC was awarded the prestigious International Olympic Committee "Sporting Excellence Award" while Canadian speed skaters collected a team-leading 30 Olympic medals over the past three Winter Games.

Dupré said: "This is an amazing time for high performance sport in Canada, and the opportunity to work further with our athletes, Marcel, and the committed team at the COC is a dream come true. With such a great foundation to build on, I am very excited about our prospects as we look towards London, Sochi and well beyond."

Originally from Toronto, Chris Overholt left Canada in 2003, after a successful career with the Toronto Raptors and then Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Since then, he has worked with the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers and the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. With the Dolphins, he successfully sold and negotiated the naming rights to Dolphin Stadium to the Canadian insurance company, SunLife.

Overholt said: "Canada has experienced tremendous recent Olympic success in Vancouver and Beijing and the opportunity to play a key leadership role in building upon it is truly an honour. The COC has a very clear and inspiring vision upon which we will build great organizational strength, and lasting relationships with all our partners and stakeholders. I'm thankful for this once-in-a-life time opportunity."

"Our collective task is to ensure that the single-minded focus on success in Vancouver will not be lost upon its achievement, and will continue to inspire our athletes' work, as well as ours," said Aubut. "The road ahead is challenging, but I am deeply convinced that for this new leadership team, our successes in 2010 were only the beginning of so much more."

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 (CDNOlympicTeam).

For further information: Steve Keogh, Canadian Olympic Committee, [phone], [email protected]