Former CFL Commissioner Named Chair of CARAS
Former CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon has been named as the new chairman of the board for The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Juno Awards and MusiCounts.
Cohon will assume the post Sept. 29th and succeed (retired CTV programming exec) Ed Robinson as the 11th chairman of the board.
“I am extremely pleased that the Board has appointed Mark as its Chairman,” President & CEO Allan Reid said yesterday. “He has extensive experience and passion for raising the profile of brands and delivering successful results. Mark will bring a fresh perspective, and we look forward to his contributions to growing the CARAS, JUNO Awards, and MusiCounts brands.”
Cohen stated: "We have much to be proud of in our Canadian music industry. It is going to be exciting working with the Board, the CARAS leadership team and corporate, media and governmental partners to celebrate our remarkable artists and performers with Canadians across our nation.”
Cohon is best known for his leadership in turning-around and driving the renaissance of the Canadian Football League. His eight-year stewardship of the CFL was a remarkable run that saw the CFL’s business model transformed and its brand elevated. Strong attendance, record television ratings, $2 billion in new stadiums, strengthened corporate partnerships, a national celebration of the 100th Grey Cup and a return to the nation’s capital were all part of the league’s stronger foundation under Cohon’s leadership.
Cohon is a graduate of Upper Canada College and Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in communication studies. He has held positions with the NBA and the MLB as Head of International Marketing and Head of Corporate Development respectively, before becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of AudienceView Ticketing, a company that sells ticketing systems and services to sports, arts and entertainment events.
In 2003, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Ontario Science Centre and then named Chair in 2006. A proud Canadian, in 2013 he was made a Member of the Order of Ontario. He is also the son of George Cohon, the founder of McDonald’s in Canada and Russia. He continues to use his father's leather travel bag and his killer stereo is the Sonos wireless hi-fi system.
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L’académie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l’enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of ongoing opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards and other year-round initiatives.
About MusiCounts
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is helping to keep music alive in schools and communities across Canada by putting musical instruments into the hands of children that need them most. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or cultural background, have access to music programs through their schools and communities. MusiCounts achieves its mission through its Band Aid Program, the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is funded by many of Canada’s most dedicated corporate citizens including and especially Bell Media, TD Bank Group, SiriusXM Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, Music Canada, Vista Radio, and Morningstar Canada. MusiCounts has been supported since inception by Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada Ltd., JUNO Songwriters’ Circle and JUNO Cup. Since MusiCounts’ establishment in 1997, nearly $8,000,000 has been awarded in support of music education in Canada. These funds have benefitted over 700 schools and communities from coast to coast, supported over 300 post-secondary music program graduates and honoured 10 extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award.
