Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games lead organizing team in place

TORONTO, June 29 /CNW/ - The key senior management team to help lead the development of the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games is now in place and operating, Ian Troop, CEO of Toronto 2015 announced today.

"This team has the experience, the smarts and the passion to deliver a great Games and to build a valuable legacy," said Troop. "Their credentials are rock-solid and they each bring the essential ability to collaborate and build effective partnerships. Assembling this kind of talent is a huge accomplishment for Toronto 2015."

Joining Troop in managing the Games is Barbara Anderson, Chief Financial Officer; Kathy Henderson, Senior Vice-President; Marketing and Revenue; Elaine Roper, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources; Bill Senn, Senior-Vice President, Infrastructure; and Allen Vansen, Senior Vice-President, Operations.

The search for individuals to fill the top jobs was officially launched in mid-March. More than 1,000 people responded to the formal search or were identified as candidates. The process was managed by a professional recruiting firm and the selection process included screenings and interviews by hiring panels involving Troop, Toronto 2015 board chair Roger Garland and additional board directors with experience in the specific field.

"We have a great deal to accomplish in a short period of time and we're focused on creating the best Pan/Parapan American Games ever," said Troop. "They're ready to roll up their sleeves and begin the hard work of planning the Games," said Troop.

Toronto 2015's senior leadership team is responsible for all Games operations such as financial management, organizing and managing all aspects of the sports program, managing the competition program, creating the brand for the event, developing sponsorship and partnership programs, recruiting and training staff and volunteers and coordinating cross-community participation.

About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

The Pan American Games is one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 42 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO). The Games comprise all Summer Olympic Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in 17 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.

    
                         BACKGROUNDER - June 29, 2010

                           Senior Leadership Team
    

Barbara G. Anderson, Chief Financial Officer

Anderson's career has included senior leadership roles in a range of organizations, from major multi-nationals to early-stage entrepreneurial businesses. Most recently CFO for MaRS Discovery District and MaRS Innovation, she has worked for PepsiCo, Cara Foods, Progistix-Solutions Inc., and the Securit Group of Companies. Anderson brings Toronto 2015 extensive experience in creating and implementing strategy and financial and general management in complex organizations. Many of her past roles were in companies undergoing significant change or organizations moving to the next level of effectiveness. An MBA graduate of the Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto, Anderson also is a Chartered Accountant (Ontario) and has a BSc from the University of British Columbia. To deliver the Games on time and on budget, she will build a strong financial team, implement financial and information management systems and processes and establish performance measurement frameworks.

Kathy Henderson, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Revenue

Henderson has held several progressive leadership roles, managing some of the world's best recognized brands at Whirlpool Corporation and Colgate-Palmolive Canada. At Whirlpool, she led the development of the strategy for licensing, new business development, innovation and global alliances. Henderson completed her MBA at the Schulich School of Business at York University and recently completed an additional Masters at the University of Toronto. In her new role, Henderson will use her 20 years of marketing and brand management experience with multi-billion dollar international corporations to expand the Pan Am Games brand. Her work developing products for consumers across countries and sectors has given her a truly global perspective on branding, which will be valuable as she reaches out to local, national and international partners and sponsors.

Elaine Roper, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources

Roper has held senior leadership roles at Think Company Inc., Promis Systems Corporation and Royal Trust Corporation. Her particular expertise is in governance, human capital, change management and organizational development strategies and employee communication. She holds a BA in German and Business from Bishop's University. Roper's mandate will be to build the human engine that powers the Games. Working with the CEO and the Toronto 2015 Board, Roper will lead the development of the organizational blueprint, recruit and train staff and the extensive volunteer contingent, implement aggressive performance management metrics and foster a culture of diversity, co-operation and service in the spirit of the Games.

Bill Senn, Senior Vice-President, Infrastructure

Senn has 30 years of Canadian and US development experience including 17 years of senior management experience in design, construction and operations of multi-million dollar state-of-the-art sports facilities. Past projects include the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and the American Airlines Arena in Miami. He most recently served as Senior Vice-President, Design and Construction for the New York Jets, where he was involved with the New York Sports and Convention Center, New Meadowlands Stadium and the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Senn holds a Bachelor of Technology in Architectural Science - Project Management, from Ryerson Polytechnic Institute. In his new role, Senn will work with the senior team of Toronto 2015 to ensure that venues for the Games are completed on time and on budget. He will partner with governments, developers, community groups and unions to deliver the best possible facilities for one of the world's largest athletic events.

Allen Vansen, Senior Vice-President, Operations

Vansen brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in managing sports venues and events to Toronto 2015. He most recently served as the VANOC Vice-President of Work Force Operations and Integration for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Prior to VANOC, Vansen held a senior operations role at the Humber Valley Resort in Newfoundland. He has a Masters Certificate in Project Management from the Schulich School of Business and has pursued studies in Environmental Sciences at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Active in both the sporting and entertainment communities, Vansen was a director on the boards of Triathlon Canada, Marble Mountain Ski Resort and Wreckhouse Entertainment. In his new role, Vansen will be responsible for Games operations, including transportation, security and the Athletes' Village.

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For further information: Liz Borowiec, Toronto 2015, [phone]