Canadian Premier League names Paul Beirne as President

Paul Beirne has been appointed President of the Canadian Premier League, the new domestic men’s professional soccer league that will debut in the spring of 2019.

As President, Beirne will manage the day to day league operations of the Canadian Premier Leauge. His primary focus will be to ensure all elements are in place for the league’s debut in spring 2019 and its long-term success. Beirne, hired as the first employee of the league as Project Manager, has been leading the efforts to develop the league over the past 18 months.

Its official! @Paulbeirne has been named #CanPL President… https://t.co/zjcJTU86Eh pic.twitter.com/XPQ5tAa3l7

— CPL (@CPLsoccer) January 24, 2018

“I have travelled extensively across the country over the past year and have seen firsthand the passion and enthusiasm that Canadians have for professional club soccer,” said Beirne. “The grassroots support for the Canadian Premier League has quite simply been overwhelming and will be the foundation to make this league a success.”

A new era in Canadian professional soccer begins https://t.co/SnBMaeFj1u pic.twitter.com/pVcR76gHDa

— CPL (@CPLsoccer) May 7, 2017

Widely regarded as one of Canada’s leading soccer executives, Beirne was formerly the Vice-President of Business Operations for Toronto FC. In 2007, Major League Soccer honoured Beirne with the prestigious Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year Award in recognition of his innovative work on TFC’s ground-breaking launch as the league’s first Canadian franchise. In addition to his work with TFC, Beirne held senior executive roles with the Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators, and oversaw the commercial business for the Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club in its aggressive pursuit of promotion to the English Premier League.