CAN - Wayne Parrish appointed Executive Director and Ceo

TORONTO (National Federation) - Canada Basketball today announced the appointment of Wayne Parrish as its new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective
October 1.
 
Parrish is a successful media and business executive who brings a wealth of experience to the position. His appointment ends a four-month search and ushers in a new chapter as the sport’s national governing body strives to strengthen and leverage its flourishing grass roots programs and ultimately deliver success internationally.
 
“We’re delighted to have been able to attract an executive of Wayne’s background, experience and contacts at the highest levels,” said Robert (Squee) Gordon, chairman of Canada Basketball’s Board of Directors. “With his knowledge and creativity in utilizing new media and his exceptional human skills, he brings a fresh perspective and approach that will help lift us to the next level.”
 
A native of Vancouver, Parrish brings to his new role more than three decades experience in business and in traditional and digital media, beginning his career as a newspaper reporter before assuming a series of increasingly senior executive positions across a broad range of segments, including newspapers, the internet, television and book publishing.
 
“I probably can’t do justice to how excited I am to be joining Canada Basketball,” said Parrish. “Sports in general, and basketball in particular, are my first love. But right now, with the Raptors’ rise, Steve Nash’s incredible example, a growing appreciation of the international game in North America and the Olympics a year away, I believe there’s a real opportunity to exert a positive influence on the game’s future in this country.
 
“Canada possesses an incredibly rich basketball tradition. There’s also an amazing passion for the game from coast to coast. The challenge is to harness that passion and connect those who share it in the most meaningful, focused way possible. The object is two-fold: invest in developing the base through programs like Steve Nash Youth Basketball, Be One and the National Elite Development Academy, then harvest that investment by re-establishing both senior national teams as consistent forces at the world championships and Olympics.”
 
Parrish was a senior executive with Sun Media Corporation during a period that culminated in a management buyout of the company from Rogers Communication Inc., and eventual sale to Quebecor Inc. He has been General Manager and Executive Editor of the Toronto Sun, Vice-President-Strategy at Sun Media, Chairman, President & CEO of the CANOE Online Network, President & CEO of Quebecor New Media and, more recently, principal of Sport Media Group, comprising several media and sports-related businesses, including a consulting arm, publishing group and The SPORT Gallery, North America’s only gallery devoted to photography, art and illustration related to sports, located at the Historic Distillery District in downtown Toronto.
 
“There has been a huge surge in interest in the international game,” noted Parrish. “You can’t help but look at the level of competition and passion displayed at Eurobasket 10 days ago without recognizing the sport’s tremendous future. Canada has the talent and discipline and drive to again be a major player on the world scene. Canada Basketball’s job is to provide the tools and create the environment in which that can occur, allowing us to build significantly on the competitive progress that’s been made recently.”
 
The men’s senior national team under coach Leo Rautins recently finished fifth at the FIBA Americas tournament, thereby qualifying for the 12-team final Olympic qualifying tournament next summer. By finishing in the top four at the FIBA Americas women’s tournament in Chile this week, the women’s senior team under Allison McNeill would also gain entry to next year’s Olympic qualifying tournament.