Read to play key role in shaping new vision leading to 2014 Olympics
CALGARY-Ken Read, whose impressive career in high-performance sport spans more than four decades as an athlete and sport leader in executive positions, has been named director of winter sport for Own the Podium. The world-leading organization designed to help Canadian athletes win more international medals made the announcement on May 19.
Read brings more than 30 years of sport-leadership experience while serving in a variety of roles in Canada's sport community. An accomplished TV analyst and motivational speaker, Read became president and chief executive officer for Alpine Canada Alpine from 2002 to 2008, where he led a complete transformation of the operational, fiscal and culture of the governing body for alpine skiing in Canada and was responsible for delivering the necessary resources athletes required to win. Read was president and general manager of Alberta Alpine Ski Association over the past two years where he positioned the organization as one of the strongest provincial ski teams in the country while balancing the budget and strengthening its financial resources.
Read is one of the nation's most accomplished alpine skiers, representing Canada as one of the famed "Crazy Canucks" for 10 years on the international stage.
"Ken is a winner, an established leader and was an extraordinary athlete who brings proven business acumen to this role," said John Furlong, who was recently appointed to chair Own the Podium's newly created advisory board. "Ken played a critical role in the founding and start-up of Own the Podium five years ago and will bring with him immense value as we continue to build on our success and shape a new vision for winter sport leading to 2014 and beyond."
Led by chief executive officer Alex Baumann, Read joins an experienced executive leadership team that will shape Own the Podium's new vision for the future while upholding the same core goal - to help Canadian athletes win more Olympic and Paralympic medals. In addition to Read, the executive leadership team will consist of Read's summer counterpart, Anne Merklinger, who was named to her post last August, along with Dr. Jon Kolb who is responsible for the creation, implementation and assessment of an integrated sport science and medicine program for Own the Podium.
"The success of Own the Podium for Canada's Olympic and Paralympic athletes in 2010 has created incredible momentum to build on in the future," said Read. "I look forward to working with Canada's winter sport leaders and coaches to develop strategies that will propel more athletes to the international podium, while investing in the development of the nation's next generation of Olympic and Paralympic heroes."
Based in Own the Podium's Calgary office at Canada Olympic Park, Read will start his new position on Monday, June 1, 2010.
