Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has hired Anthony LeBlanc to join Senators Sports and Entertainment as its president of business operations.
The sports executive was spearheading the process for a CFL team in Atlantic Canada. LeBlanc was a founding partner of Schooner Sports and Entertainment. Its partners have always owned or held leadership roles in businesses and sports organizations throughout North America in addition to SSE.
SSE remains committed to developing a community stadium in Halifax and bringing the 10th CFL franchise to Atlantic Canada. Another of SSE’s founding partners, Gary Drummond, will assume the group’s lead spokesperson role moving forward.
A longtime Ottawa resident and experienced NHL executive, LeBlanc will fill a necessary and vital business and revenue role in the Ottawa Senators’ front office. He will be instrumental in helping create circumstances for the Ottawa Senators to return to full operational capacity when it is safe to welcome back our valued fans, community partners and employees.
“I am thrilled to be appointed to the position of president of business operations with the Senators. Having been a diehard Senators fan since the Sens rejoined the league, this opportunity is truly an honour,” LeBlanc said in a statement.
“I look forward to working closely with the entire staff as we prepare for an exciting chapter in the history of the Senators. I am confident that my experience in the NHL, as well as my sales and marketing background in the technology sector, will be put to good use here in the national capital region.”
LeBlanc previously served as president, chief executive officer, co-owner and alternate governor of the Arizona Coyotes from 2013 until 2017. Before his career in the sports industry, LeBlanc served in several capacities with Research in Motion (RIM) / BlackBerry from 2000 to 2008, including vice president of Global sales.
