CBC Announces Other Executive Appointments for Olympic Coverage

CBC is boosting its in-house sports portfolio with new senior executives hires and placements specifically charged to oversee Olympic-related media coverage and business activities.

Jeffrey Orridge, already CBC’s Executive Director of Sports Properties, has added the Olympics portfolio to his current responsibilities, and he’s now overseeing all aspects of Olympic related business for CBC/Radio-Canada in advance of its planned multi-platform coverage of the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games

Kirstine Stewart EVP, CBC English, made the announcement, saying “Jeffrey was instrumental in bringing the Games home to CBC. Building on his long standing, strong relationships with the IOC and thorough understanding of the international sports arena, I know Jeffrey will represent CBC/Radio-Canada well for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games and 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games.”

Orridge will continue to manage CBC’s sports properties including the NHL, FIFA and 2015 Pan Am Games.

CBC Revenue Group has also announced that Jim Kozak will be the new Director of Sales, Olympics and Sports Partnerships.

Kozak brings more than 15 years of sponsorship experience to this new role with CBC, and will be responsible for overseeing CBC’s sales for the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, the Pan-Am Games, and the FIFA World Cup among other major CBC sports properties.

Kozak joins CBC on October 29 and will report to Alan Dark, General Manager of the CBC Revenue Group.

"We are pleased to welcome Jim to CBC," Dark said. "He brings an impressive sports marketing background and a wealth of experience to our strong leadership team, and having Jim take on this exciting challenge positions us well as we work towards the 2014 Olympic Games and beyond."

“I’m very excited to be joining CBC,” Kozak added. “Having worked closely together on a number of projects in the past, I know what a great team they have in place and I’m looking forward to helping create unique, industry-leading opportunities for our partners with these world-class properties.”

Prior to joining CBC, Kozak was the Director of Consumer Promotions for Kraft Canada where he was responsible for developing the annual strategic business plan for consumer promotions, overseeing agency and vendor relationships, and creating unique and integrated marketing platforms. This included a range of multi-brand partnerships such as the award-winning Kraft Hockeyville program. He also served as the company’s primary sponsorship contact with some of Canada’s largest sports and cultural organizations, including the NHL, NHLPA, Le Carnaval de Québec, Calgary Stampede, Hockey Canada and more. Kozak is a member of the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada’s board of directors, and a founding member of the George Brown College Alumni Committee and co-creator of their “5 to Watch” program.