CFL Names New Commissioner

The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced that Mark Cohon has been appointed the 12th Commissioner of the CFL. The announcement was made by the League’s Board of Governors’ Chair Gene Dunn at the InterContinental Toronto Centre.


“On behalf of the Board, I am extremely pleased to announce Mark Cohon as the new Commissioner of the Canadian Football League,” said Mr. Dunn. “Mark has a great track record in sports and business development and brings the right experience, energy and perspective to help ensure we build on the League’s current success and continue to drive the business forward.”

“I am absolutely thrilled about this opportunity and look forward to leading one of Canada’s oldest and most treasured traditions. Very few times in life do chances like this come up and I can’t wait to get started,” said Cohon.

Cohon comes to the CFL with more than 15 years’ expertise in sports marketing, business development, ticketing, sponsorship and television sales. As Vice President of Business Development with the National Basketball Association, Cohon oversaw the League’s international marketing efforts. Prior to that, Cohon was Director of Corporate and Game Development for Major League Baseball International where he was responsible for generating revenues and brand exposure, managing multi-million dollar sponsorships and creating game development activities around the world.

“We were impressed with Mark’s proven ability to build brands and grow revenues. This combined with his determination and passion for sport will be a great asset to the CFL as we continue to look for new ways to enhance our game, grow our business and provide CFL fans with the very best of what our game has to offer,” Mr. Dunn added.

Cohon’s experience also includes partner negotiations and business and retail strategy development as Chief Development Officer at Petopia Inc. Most recently, Cohon was President and Chief Executive Officer of AudienceView Software Corporation, a global software company for the sports, arts and entertainment industries.

He is active within the community with leadership positions including Chairman of the Ontario Science Centre and a member of the Board of Directors for Katimavik, Canada’s leading youth services organization. Cohon was also recognized with Canada’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’ honours in 2005.

Commissioner Cohon’s appointment follows an extensive and thorough search process, led by a special committee of the Board with support from a leading executive recruitment firm. Cohon will assume his duties at the League office as Commissioner on April 17th.

Biography - CFL Commissioner, Mark Cohon

Mark Cohon was appointed the 12th Commissioner of the Canadian Football League on March 28, 2007.

Cohon has served in several prominent executive capacities at Major League Baseball International (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and most recently as CEO of AudienceView Software Corporation. During the early 90's, Cohon was the Director of Corporate and Game Development for Major League Baseball International. Following his time at MLB, Cohon was recruited by David Stern, the Commissioner of the NBA and served as Director and Group Manager of International Marketing, Managing Director of NBA Europe and Vice President of Business Development.

After a decade in sports, Cohon joined Petopia, a leading multi-channel retailer in the United States, as Chief Development Officer where he oversaw partner negotiations, business and retail strategy development. Most recently, Cohon was President and Chief Executive Officer of AudienceView, where he helped grow the company from a small start up to a leader in the event ticketing and CRM space for the sports and entertainment industries. From a base of five clients, Cohon oversaw all operations of the business as it grew to more than 75 prominent clients in North America and Europe including Toronto Blue Jays, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the new Wembley Stadium,  Churchill Downs, MGM Inc, Venetian Resort, and Clear Channel Entertainment.

Cohon is Chairman of the Ontario Science Centre, one of the world's leading interactive science centres and sits on the Board of Directors of Katimavik, Canada's leading youth services organization. He is also Chairman of the Advisory Board for Next Pathway Inc., a technology investment company.

Cohon has served as President of Earth Rangers, an environmental youth organization in Toronto. He has also been a Trustee of Northwestern University in Chicago (his alma mater), a board member of City Lights Youth Theatre in New York, and a board member of Youth Challenge International in Toronto. In 2005, Cohon was a recipient of  Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 honours, a national award which annually recognizes 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for profit sectors.

Cohon attended Northwestern University in Chicago Illinois where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications Studies. He currently resides in Toronto with his wife Suzanne and their daughter, Parker.