MLSE hires Air Canada executive Michael Friisdahl as President

[GhostofPotvin29]

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have hired Air Canada executive Michael Friisdahl as the sports holding company?s new president, a source told TSN.

Friisdahl replaces Tim Leiweke and his hiring will be announced by MLSE later this afternoon.

Friisdahl joins MLSE from Air Canada, where since 2012 he was president and chief executive of the airline?s leisure group, which runs Air Canada Vacations, a tour operator business.

Friisdahl?s previous positions included CEO of Thomas Cook North America and CEO of the tour operator Holiday Network.

Friisdahl?s hiring brings Leiweke?s stewardship of MLSE to a close, as the story of who will replace Leiweke has percolated in sports business circles for months.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlse-hires-friisdahl-as-new-president-1.384691

 

[Kin]

It will be interesting to see what MLSE sees as their mandate now that they don't actively seem to be a property developer and Leiweke's grandiose ambitions seem to have largely fell through.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I thought they might have hired someone who had at least some background in pro sports.

 

[cabber24]

It will be interesting to see what MLSE sees as their mandate now that they don't actively seem to be a property developer and Leiweke's grandiose ambitions seem to have largely fell through.

Leiweke was on his way out before he even got here, a terrible hire. Talked out of his ass and didn't deliver.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I thought they might have hired someone who had at least some background in pro sports.

You know I actually prefer that they didn't. It's probably very unlikely that Friisdahl sticks his nose in any of the hockey/baseball/soccer decisions, and that's probably for the best.

 

[bustaheims]

I thought they might have hired someone who had at least some background in pro sports.

You know I actually prefer that they didn't. It's probably very unlikely that Friisdahl sticks his nose in any of the hockey/baseball/soccer decisions, and that's probably for the best.

Yeah. It's more important for MLSE that they hire someone who can really look at things from a business-person's perspective rather than feeling they're part of team management.

 

[Kin]

Yeah. It's more important for MLSE that they hire someone who can really look at things from a business-person's perspective rather than feeling they're part of team management.

I don't disagree but that does depend on their being an overarching business strategy beyond "Sports Teams good = Money", right? Because I don't know if we've seen that from Leiweke outside of the ill-fated leaning towards trying to get a NFL team.

 

[Highlander]

Leiweke legacy:  First time MLS team makes playoffs, hires GM Ujiri for Raptors, wins Atlantic division twice, hires President of Maple Leafs Shanahan whom then hires, Dubas, Hunter, Lamarillo and for the first time in team history stockpiles a load of talent in the Marlies to not be rushed into the Major leagues but truly developed.
Ya I think that is a pretty bad legacy to leave behind. Pity the Blue Jays were not in his porfolio as there is no way he would have let AA walk.

 

[lamajama]

Air Canada?

Woof.

 

[Highlander]

Hopefully he keeps his mind on business and leave the teams alone. I think each of the teams has the right managment in place

 

[Kin]

Leiweke legacy:  First time MLS team makes playoffs, hires GM Ujiri for Raptors, wins Atlantic division twice, hires President of Maple Leafs Shanahan whom then hires, Dubas, Hunter, Lamarillo and for the first time in team history stockpiles a load of talent in the Marlies to not be rushed into the Major leagues but truly developed.

I can't speak to TFC and we talk a lot about the Leafs but I can say for certain that I'm not overly thrilled with the Raptors under Leiweke/Ujiri. Despite two meaningless division titles in the easiest division in professional sports, we've seen two first round playoff exits and no real strategy towards putting together a real title contender.