Jacqueline Ryan named COC Chief Brand and Commercial Officer
TORONTO (July 4, 2019) — The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced today that Jacqueline Ryan will serve as the organization’s Chief Brand and Commercial Officer.
Ryan joins the COC after spending seven years at Scotiabank, where she was Vice President, Sponsorship Marketing, Partnerships, and Philanthropy before occupying the role of Vice President, Global Social Enterprise and Sustainable Business.
During her time at Scotiabank, Ryan and her team secured a $800 million Scotiabank Arena naming rights sponsorship — the largest arena deal in North American history — made unprecedented gains in brand equity from hockey programs through award-winning National Hockey League marketing programs and helped lead the SCENE loyalty program to a top position in customer satisfaction.
“I am honoured to join the Canadian Olympic Committee, a brand whose strength is truly unique in the way it touches us all as Canadians,” said Ryan. “It is quite meaningful to be able to help expand the reach of Team Canada, support our dedicated athletes on their Olympic journey and help pave the way for the next generation. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the remarkable passion that drives the Olympic Movement in this country.”
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Secretary General, Ryan will oversee the digital, brand and marketing partnership arms of the organization. The position will be based out of Toronto, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
Ryan is no stranger to the Olympic Movement, having been Head, Olympic Marketing, Global Brand Marketing at RBC, where she drove the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games, Olympic Torch Relay business plan and marketing programs to unprecedented success. During her 12 years at RBC, she held a number of other positions, including Director, Community Marketing and Sponsorship, and Director, RBC Foundation.
“I am thrilled to have Jacquie join our team. She’s a visionary leader who brings tremendous expertise in sports marketing and partnerships. She also demonstrates a passion for sports and a commitment to making a social impact and will be a great asset to both the COC and the Olympic Movement,” said Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General David Shoemaker.
An avid skier, Ryan began her career in the ski industry in Banff, Alberta, followed by sport marketing positions at MacLaren Momentum and Lang and Associates. Earlier this year, she was recognized by the Hockey News as the top female (#57) on the Top 100 People of Power and Influence in Hockey. Her other accolades include earning a spot on one of the Most Influential Women in Hockey by the Toronto Star in 2018, being named as one of the top 25 (#8) Most Influential People in Canadian Sport by Yahoo! Sports in 2015 and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Ryan holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Marketing from George Brown College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Film Studies from the University of Western Ontario. She is also a CSIA Level III Ski Instructor and CFSA Level I Coach.
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COC MEDIA CONTACTS:
Josh Su, Specialist, Public Relations
C: 647-464-4060
E: jsu@olympic.ca
Photi Sotiropoulos, Director, Communications and Media Relations
C: 416-476-9174
E: psotiropoulos@olympic.ca