The Ottawa Senators have named a new CEO who will concentrate on marketing and strengthening community relations. The hiring of Jim Little comes after Sens' owner Eugene Melnyk hit the news several times over the last year, usually for something portraying him in a negative light.
Little, 55, was most recently Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Culture Officer for Shaw Communications, worth close to $15 billion. Over his career, he has held several senior executive roles at Royal Bank of Canada, Bell Canada, and Bombardier Aerospace.
"We are pleased to have Jim joining our executive team during this exciting period of growth for Senators Sports and Entertainment," said Melnyk. "As part of our long-term strategy to redevelop and rebuild the Ottawa Senators hockey club, an extensive search was conducted to find the right leader to guide the organization into the next decade. Jim's appointment is an important step towards achieving our goals and building on the positive impact the hockey club has on the community. As our planned rebuild of the Senators continues to develop on the ice, Jim's wealth of experience and fresh perspective will strengthen the company's off-ice success, ushering in a new era for our club and fans."
Melnyk is not exactly loved by Ottawa fans as the owner is known for shipping star players out of town before having to sign them to bigger contracts. He's also in some hot water legally as a casino is suing him for allegedly failing to pay back gambling markers. On top of that, Melnyk was also embroiled in a legal process in 2019 involving a private jet that he was using. The company that owns it claimed he had not been paying for regular maintenance of the plane, as well as other fees associated with operating it. The hiring of someone to take over community relations could very well be a step towards attempting to mend fences and to get Melnyk out of the spotlight.
"Eugene has asked me to lead the business operations of the Ottawa Senators - and to do so with a clear priority to re-create a strong, positive relationship with this community," said Little. "I want to thank him for the confidence he has shown in me and for the clarity of the mandate to be creative, to engage fans, partners, business and civic leaders in getting this chemistry right for the long term. We've got a passionate and dedicated team of professionals, on and off the ice, and a community that wants us to succeed - together, we will."
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