Stewart Johnston, Senior Vice-President of Content at Bell Media, is departing the company to take on leadership of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as its 15th commissioner.
The former President of TSN will depart Bell Media on April 24. He had been with TSN since 1997, rising through the ranks to hold the VP of Programming role by 2006. Johnston was promoted to President of the sports network in 2010, before being named SVP of Sports and Sales in 2021.
Described by the league as a “football fanatic” in its announcement, Johnston said he was “deeply humbled” by the opportunity.
“Long before I worked with TSN and RDS to broadcast the CFL, I was a fan,” said Johnston. “Growing up, I sat with family and friends, watching the legends of the game. I’ve loved working closely with this league, getting to know its stars and being a part of the most unforgettable celebration in Canadian sports – Grey Cup Week. To think that I will present that iconic trophy to this year’s winners in Winnipeg this November is a dream come true.”
The league noted Johnston’s experience as “a seasoned and successful sports rights negotiator with intimate knowledge of content distribution strategies and key relationships across major distribution partners.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Stewart as our next Commissioner,” said Scott Banda, Chair of the CFL Board of Governors. “What he has built at Bell Media is nothing short of remarkable. His in-depth familiarity with sports business in Canada and his lengthy history of success in the media industry and as an executive, made him the ideal candidate for Commissioner.”
Johnston, who’ll be formally introduced as commissioner at a media event later this month, succeeds Randy Ambrosie, who will continue to lead day-to-day operations until Johnston officially takes on the role.
