Keith Pelley was named President & Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Sports &Entertainment (MLSE) in January, 2024 before officially assuming the role in April, 2024. MLSE is one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment companies as owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL), Toronto Marlies (AHL), Raptors 905 (NBA G-League) and Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro), hosting more than 3.8 million fans at its venues each year.
In addition to its sports franchises, MLSE’s LIVE division has established Scotiabank Arena as one of the leading music and entertainment venues in the world, bringing hundreds of world-class shows to the building each year. The company will lead a $350 million Venue Reimagination Project to enhance the venue’s standing as one of the best in the world. The organization’s charitable arm, MLSE Foundation, has invested more than $65 million to support the community over the last 15 years and has impacted more than 30,000 youth annually through community programs, including operating the largest provider of youth Sport For Development programming in Ontario with MLSE Launch Pad.
Pelley, a Toronto native, joined MLSE following his role as CEO of the European Tour Group, which administers the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, Legends Tour, G4DS Tour and the Ryder Cup in Europe. During his eight and a half years with the European Tour Group, the European Tour Group introduced the Rolex Series, DP World’s title partnership of the group’s main tour, the G4D Tour for Golfers with a disability, mixed events with LET and LPGA, and staged the two most successful Ryder Cups to be played on European soil in Paris (2018) and Rome (2023). Pelley also guided the Tour through the global COVID-19 pandemic, negotiated the full acquisition of European Tour Productions from IMG and formed strategic alliances with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, as well as established pathways for other Tours onto the DP World Tour as part of the ongoing efforts to make global golf more aligned. Pelley also served as the Chairman of the International Golf Federation.
Prior to joining the European Tour Group, Pelley served as President of Rogers Media from 2010 to 2015 where he was responsible for leading the overall operations of the company’s diverse portfolio including television, radio, publishing, digital media, The Shopping Channel, subscription-based content services, the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre. During his tenure, Pelley led the effort to secure the company’s groundbreaking 12-year broadcast and media rights deal with the NHL.
From 2007 to 2010, Pelley was Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning at CTV globe media and President of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, where he led Rogers’ and CTV’s unprecedented coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, delivering the fifth most-watched event in Canadian television history and earning a record seven Gemini Awards for its coverage.
Pelley began his career as an on-air personality at OMNI Television in 1984 before joining TSN where he served in various editorial and production roles. Pelley left TSN for FOX where he worked as a game producer for the NFL, NFL Europe, NHL and MLB, returning to TSN as Senior Vice-President of Programming and Production. Pelley was appointed President of TSN in 2001. Pelley served as President and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts from 2004 to 2007, winning the Grey Cup in his first season with the club.
Pelley has devoted much of his time to numerous charitable organizations over the years, including Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and has received a number of industry awards and recognition, including twice being named Media Player of the Year (2012, 2011); Ryerson Alumni Achievement Award (2011); member of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame (2011); Special Olympics Ontario Sponsors Hall of Fame (2007) and Miles Nadal JCC Sportsman of the Year (2006).
Pelley graduated from Ryerson University (now called Toronto Metropolitan University) with a BA in Radio and Television Arts, and also received an ATCL Diploma from Trinity College in London.
Pelley, and wife Joan, are the proud parents of Jason and Hope.
Sabina Rizvi is Chief Financial Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). Sabina joined MLSE in November, 2022 after a global career spanning across Canada, Thailand and the US. Sabina has experience at multiple consumer goods companies, including 15 years at Yum! Brands, one of the world’s largest restaurant companies with over 53,000 restaurants in 155 countries and territories under the company’s concepts KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and The Habit Burger Grill. Sabina served at Yum! in a number of executives roles across multiple geographies and functions including CFO in Canada, CFO in Thailand and President and General Manager of Pizza Hut Thailand, in addition to VP Strategy and Repeatability for Yum! Brands Global and Chief Operating Officer for Yum! Digital & Technology, both roles out of Dallas, Texas.
Nick Eaves is the Chief Operating Officer at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Eaves joined MLSE in 2016 and is responsible for overseeing the Operations, Revenue and Capital Projects & Development functions across MLSE's business and venues. Eaves also has oversight of MLSE’s LIVE division that brings hundreds of world-class music and entertainment events to its venues each year.
A veteran of the sports and entertainment industry, Eaves came to MLSE from Woodbine Entertainment Group where he served as President & CEO from 2010 to 2015, after holding numerous senior positions over a 20-year period. Eaves led the transformation of the organization’s business model to drive operational performance across all lines of the business including commercial, live event, broadcasting, technology, hospitality, and retail operations.
Eaves serves on the Board of Directors of MLSE-affiliated entities Live Nation Ontario Concerts LP, Maple Leaf Square Holdings and Lakeshore Arena Corporation. He is a director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto, Co-Chair of the Scarborough Health Network campaign cabinet and a member of the United Way Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity Leadership Table. Eaves is an active community member and volunteers with the Out of the Cold Program, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter and Youth Without Shelter. Eaves holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Western University
Peter Miller is currently Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s (MLSE) Chief Legal Officer and has been with the company for over 21 years. He is responsible for overseeing the legal matters relating to all of MLSE’s sports and business operations. Miller works closely with the Board of Directors of MLSE in his capacity as Corporate Secretary. Miller is a highly trusted and valued leader at MLSE whose advice and counsel are regularly sought and he is an integral part of the senior management team. Miller has been consistently recognized internally for his commitment to the values of MLSE, earning a number of annual and monthly awards including MLSE’s “MVP of the Year” award. As the senior lawyer at MLSE, Miller’s expertise extends across all of MLSE’s business units, including global partnerships, intellectual property, licensing, facility and event management and promotion, advertising and marketing, merchandising, ticketing, human resources and real estate. Peter also advises on league (NHL, AHL, NBA, NBA G-League, MLS and CFL) franchise matters. Miller served as lead MLSE counsel in the acquisition of the Toronto FC MLS soccer franchise and the negotiations of MLSE’s strategic initiatives with the City of Toronto for the development and management of BMO Field at Exhibition Place, as well as the acquisition of the Toronto Argonauts CFL franchise. Miller was a key contributor in the completion of MLSE’s ownership transaction in 2012.
Prior to joining MLSE, Miller was an associate at the law firm of Goodmans, LLP, practicing in the area of corporate/commercial law. While at Goodmans, Miller worked on a number of significant high profile corporate transactions including, the acquisition of the Toronto Raptors NBA franchise and arena by Maple Leaf Gardens, Ltd. In 1996, Miller graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law with a Bachelor of Laws degree. In his first year, he was recognized on the Faculty Honours List. Miller was called to the Bar in March 1998. Prior to attending law school, Miller earned his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1992 with High Distinction. In each of the three years of his undergraduate program, Miller was a Faculty Scholar.
Humza’s organization at MLSE leads the development and execution of organization wide business strategy, digital, technology, IT, data science, and program delivery across MLSE's diverse portfolio, including teams, venues, and esports initiatives. Emphasizing data analysis to drive innovation, enhance fan engagement, improve cost efficiency, and enable revenue growth.
Prior to MLSE, Humza was at Compass Group North America where he built a technology and digital strategy company called Compass Digital Labs where he was the CEO. Compass Digital Labs helped to drive billions of dollars of incremental revenue and market differentiation across retail and hospitality sectors across the United States and Canada.
Humza has also worked at Allstream, where he led Business Transformation and IT Enterprise Architecture. He has also held various technical and management roles at Bell Canada.
A frequent keynote speaker at various North American conferences focused on technology, innovation and driving business results, Humza has built strong technology and business partnerships with top organizations around the globe.This network allows him to innovate creatively and quickly, accelerating business objectives.
Humza also represents the Toronto Raptors on the NBA’s Team Innovation Advisory Council. The TIAC is responsible for driving innovation and best practices at the NBA team level in collaboration with the league.
Humza has an undergraduate degree from York University and holds various professional training accreditations from both the Schulich School of Business and the Niagara Institute, he also served as President of the CIO Association of Canada and was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award by the organization for his contributions to the Canadian tech ecosystem.
Humza is an active member on the Canada Basketball Board of Directors, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Board, Founding Member of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism, and also serves on the Global Institute ofSport Advisory Board.
Shannon Hosford is the Chief Marketing Officer. Hosford oversees the Marketing and Fan Experience, one of the largest and most diverse sports marketing portfolios in North America. With over 18 years of leadership experience, she leads all brand functions for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, MLSE LIVE and MLSE Foundation.
Hosford is a dynamic leader with a distinct creative insight. Prior to her appointment as Chief Marketing Officer, she held the Senior Vice President, Marketing & Fan Experience role, as well as leadership roles in the areas of Communications, Marketing and Global Partnerships. Hosford is an ambassador and has participated in many philanthropic initiatives including recent missions to Kenya, New Orleans and Jamaica as part of her volunteerism with Habitat for Humanity and Free The Children. She is also a board member of the MLSE Foundation, a mentor with the American Marketing Association and a member of the 2014 and 2015 Sponsorship Marketing Awards Judging Panel, 2015 AToMiC Awards Jury and the 2015 CLIO Sports Jury.
Under her leadership, the sports and marketing world was captured by both the Toronto Raptors’ We The North and Toronto FC’s Bloody Big Deal marketing campaigns. These two highly successful campaigns led Strategy to spotlight Hosford as Marketer of the Year in 2014. In the same year, Hosford also led her team to a successful bid for the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend and erected Leafs Legends Row, a series of permanent bronzed statues celebrating the storied history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hosford was nominated for the 2017 Premier’s Award for Outstanding Ontario College Graduates and in 2018, she was named one of Adweek’s “33 Media, Marketing and Tech Stars Who’ve Helped Make Toronto a Vibrant Creative Hub.”
As a testament to her leadership and vision, the MLSE marketing team was awarded the CLIO Sports Awards Grand Prize and the In-House Agency Forum Awards Gold Prize.
Teri L. Dennis-Davies is the Chief People & Inclusion Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) joining the organization in October of 2020.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, Teri has principal oversight of the company’s human capital and equity, diversity and inclusion strategies which inform the organization’s approach to succession planning, talent management, organizational effectiveness, learning and development, and total rewards.
A seasoned executive with more than 20 years of global experience, Teri has held various senior leadership positions in human resources, diversity and inclusion, governance and compliance in the USA, Caribbean, Canada, Europe and Asia. She joined MLSE from Royal Bank of Canada where she worked for 14 years including global leadership roles as Vice President Human Resources, Investor & Treasury Services and Vice President Employee Relations. Prior to RBC, Teri worked at Merrill Corporation, Fortis Fund Services, and KPMG. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University in New Jersey and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Teri is a licensed attorney in the states of New York and Connecticut.
Ms. Dennis-Davies serves as Director on the Board of WISE Toronto – Women in Sports & Events and on the Executive Committee of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Board of Directors as the Vice Chair.
Bobby Webster enters his sixth season with the Raptors and second as the team’s general manager. He manages the day-to-day basketball operations of the franchise and provides his expertise on strategic team building, roster and personnel planning, and player acquisitions. During his time with the Raptors, Webster has also served as assistant general manager and vice president, basketball management & strategy.
Webster came to the Raptors after working for the NBA league office in New York for seven seasons in the legal department. He brings with him a vast working knowledge of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and was part of the team that worked with the NBA Labor Relations Committee to negotiate the 2011 CBA with the National Basketball Players Association. While at the NBA, Webster advised front office personnel from all 30 teams on CBA matters related to salary cap/luxury tax planning, player contract negotiations & analytics, and trades.
Jason Hernandez was named Toronto FC General Manager on June 27, 2023. He spent the 2021 and 2022 season as an Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel and Engagement Strategy, assisting with personnel recruitment and player acquisitions. Included in his work, he was part of the signing of Homegrown Players Deandre Kerr, Kobe Franklin, and Kosi Thompson. Prior to his promotion, he served as a Manager for Player Engagement from 2019 to 2021, where he created and launched a TFC alumni program that focused on re-integrating players from TFC's past. He also built a mentoring program to develop a pathway between the Academy, Toronto FC II, and First Team.
Before joining TFC's Front Office, Hernandez spent two seasons (2017-2018) as a player with Toronto FC. He originally signed with the Reds on March 21, 2017, and was a key player on the team that won the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and the Canadian Championship in 2017, becoming the first team in MLS history to win a domestic treble. The former MLS defender made over 300 appearances during his 14-year MLS playing career. He played for the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls), Chivas USA, San Jose Earthquakes and New York City FC. At the conclusion of his rookie season with the MetroStars, he was traded to Chivas USA where he played for two seasons. Hernandez was selected by San Jose in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft. He spent the majority of his career with San Jose, where he helped the Quakes win the 2012 MLS Supporters Shield. He left the Earthquakes eight seasons later via the same method he was acquired as NYCFC selected him in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.
Hernandez received his Bachelor's in Finance from Seton Hall University.
On October 8, 2019, Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons was named the 20th General Manager in team history, marking his 30th consecutive year with the football club in various roles.
Clemons joined the Argonauts from Dunedin, Florida in 1989 after stints with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Playing for the Double Blue until 2000, Clemons won Grey Cups in 1991, 1996 and 1997 with the Argonauts and was also named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 1990. Clemons left the game as the CFL’s all-time leader in combined yards with 25,438, a record that still stands today. Halfway through his final season as a player in 2000, he was asked to replace John Huard as the head coach.
Clemons coached the Argonauts for the 2000 and 2001 CFL seasons before being named Team President ahead of the 2002 season. He returned as head coach from 2002 to 2007, leading the football club to six consecutive East Division Finals, including the 2004 championship, his fourth as an Argonaut. Clemons concluded his coaching tenure with 68 coaching wins, the second highest in team history.
He served as the team’s Chief Executive Officer from 2008, and Vice-Chair from 2009-2019, during which the Argonauts won two Grey Cup.
Clemons’ No. 31 is one of four numbers to have been honoured with a retirement by the Toronto Argonauts. He has been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was also named to the Order of Ontario in 2001 and in 2013, he was awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
In 2007, Michael and his wife Diane founded the Pinball Clemons Foundation, a non-profit organization that empowers youth through education. The foundation is responsible for the construction of a hospital in Uganda, over 200 schools in developing countries, 2 orphanages in Haiti, and locally awarding more than 200 scholarships through their foundation’s margins to mainstream initiative.
Clemons is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, where he received a degree in economics. Michael’s pride and joy are his wife Diane and three daughters Rachel, Raven and Rylie.
Dan Morrow is Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) where he oversees an F&B operation that encompasses Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca Cola Coliseum, Real Sports Bar & Grill and e11even. He joined the organization in February 2014 as Senior Director of Food and Beverage.
Morrow has spent his career in the sports and entertainment industry. Having spent thirteen years at Rogers Centre in various roles working for Levy Restaurants, ultimately leading the location as Director of Operations. A career highlight saw Morrow move to Vancouver in 2007 to lead the F&B Operations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Morrow lead the development of the food and beverage planning for the 2010 Olympics building strong relationships with key governmental stakeholders, vendors and other organizations that ultimately lead to a successful Olympic Games.
Morrow is an active member of the food and beverage community and is currently Chair of the Board of the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel, Motel Association (ORHMA). An organization dedicated to enhancing the business climate of the hospitality industry. Morrow is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA-CMA) and is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario.
Jordan is the Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, overseeing one of the largest sports partnership portfolios in North America. Jordan leads a team responsible for developing strategic and award-winning business partnerships across MLSE’s sports teams and business units including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Marlies, Raptors 905 and Toronto FC II.
Jordan has held many roles in Global Partnerships at MLSE since 2007 and has also held positions with World Wrestling Entertainment and the Canadian Football League.
Jordan currently serves on the board of the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Association and is a member of the “5 to Watch” organizing committee where he was recognized in 2017 for being one of the top 5 sports and marketing leaders to watch.
Tom McDonald is Senior Vice President, Ticket Sales & Service at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) overseeing one of the most prominent, leading ticketing businesses in North America. McDonald oversees the Suite, Membership, VIP Hospitality business for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Marlies, Raptors 905 and the Premium Live ticketing business at Scotiabank Arena and Budweiser Stage.
Tom’s career at MLSE spans 20+ years and includes the successful ticketing execution of global events such as the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium, the 2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey tournament, 2016 NBA All-Star weekend, the 2017 NHL Centennial Classic at BMO field and the 2015 & 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament.
Accolades and recognition for McDonald’s business results include the 2018-19 NBA Team of the Year, recognizing the outstanding business achievements of the Toronto Raptors and more recently the 2019-20 Raptors 905 NBA G League franchise of the year.
Tom’s passion and experience in the sports business industry is matched only by his dynamic leadership style and his commitment to developing young sports executives. Tom, his wife Julia and their three daughters are residents of Uxbridge, Ontario and are active organizers and participants in the annual Terry Fox run and fundraising efforts in support of cancer research.
