Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announces corporate restructuring

President and CEO Tim Leiweke announces senior leadership team and new company structure designed to improve efficiency and strengthen position with fans and customers

TORONTO, July 24, 2013 /CNW/ - Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Tim Leiweke announced a corporate restructuring today designed to streamline the company and ultimately strengthen its position with both its fans and its customers.

"I have always seen Toronto as one of the top sports and entertainment markets in the world, and my goal coming to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment was to help take this organization from 'good' to 'great' by making the necessary changes both on our playing surfaces and off," said Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "Today is about changes off the ice, court and pitch designed to enable us to better serve our fans and customers."

The company's new organizational structure will see a number of areas of the business reallocated to improve efficiency with a revamped senior leadership team reporting directly to Leiweke.

The senior leadership team will consist of Tom Anselmi as Chief Operating Officer, Ian Clarke as Chief Financial Officer, David Hopkinson as Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Miller as Chief Legal and Development Officer and Bob Hunter as Chief Facilities and Live Entertainment Officer.

As part of the organization's new structure, expanded portfolios will be given to a group of the company's next generation of leaders within Hopkinson's team as the company focuses on streamlined communication and interaction with its fans. Shannon Hosford will serve as Vice President, Marketing and Communications; Jeff Deline as Vice President, Global Partnerships and Tom Pistore as Vice President, Ticket Sales and Service.

"This leadership team is as strong as I have worked with in all of my years in the sports and entertainment industry," said Leiweke. "We have tremendous resources here at MLSE and this new company structure is driven by the need to make the best use of those resources while ensuring our fans and customers are always our highest priority. Today's restructuring will result in the departure of a number of MLSE executives, and on behalf of the company, I'd like to thank them for their many contributions to MLSE's successes over the years. I am extremely excited about the future for this company and I'm equally as proud of the team of people here at MLSE that will play a key role in our bid to bring championships to Toronto."

About Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) is one of the world's premier sports and entertainment companies that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), the Toronto Raptors (NBA), the Toronto Marlies  (AHL), Toronto FC (MLS), Air Canada Centre, Maple Leaf Square and three digital channels — Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and GOLTV Canada. MLSE has also invested in four of Toronto's sports facilities — Ricoh Coliseum, home of the Marlies, BMO Field, home of Toronto FC, Lamport Stadium, and the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, the practice facility for the Maple Leafs and Marlies. MLSE operates and manages events at Ricoh Coliseum and BMO Field.

SOURCE: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.

Jamie Deans
Manager, Corporate Communications
416.815.5445

Abby Albino
Assistant, Corporate Communications
416.815.5455