Hardy Named Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association today announced it has hired London, Ontario native Paul Hardy, 38, as its first Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Hardy’s responsibilities will include management of the Association’s expanding hosting responsibilities as well as overseeing the day to day handling of the marketing program in liaison with Soccer Canada Properties. He will also assist the Association’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevan Pipe and will act as the CSA’s second-in command when the COO is not available.

Hardy comes to the Association with an impressive background in sport. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, he began his career in sport with the International Amateur Athletic Federation in London, England in 1987, beginning as Competitions Coordinator and eventually becoming Technical Director/Deputy Competitions Director until leaving the association in 1995. In 1996, he moved to Lucerne, Switzerland to join ISL Marketing where he worked as Head of Event Operations in the Football Department. As ISL is the marketing arm of FIFA, he managed the on-sight marketing responsibilities for the company at all FIFA World Championships, as well as various European and African championships. He stayed with ISL until January 2000, when he decided to return to Canada to begin raising his family and joined the Association on a temporary basis in charge of event management.

“We have taken the opportunity to restructure significantly the position formerly titled Director of Competitions/Event Management. With so much on our agenda, this restructuring will provide a much better balance in delivering services in all aspects of our programming,” stated CSA President Jim Fleming.

“We are pleased to welcome Paul on board. When I heard of his availability at this time last year, I knew he would become a long- term asset to CSA,” stated COO Kevan Pipe. “His stint with us last year proved his capabilities and I now look forward to his expanded role with us as we undertake many challenging tasks in a dynamic environment.”

Hardy will be working part time with the CSA until May when he fulfills his role as Director of Competitions for the World Athletics Championships being held in Edmonton in August. He will then rejoin the CSA on a permanent basis in September.