February 1 – Canada Soccer has turned to the world of golf to find its new general secretary and CEO.
Kevin Blue replaces Alyson Walker who quit as general secretary in January because of an “unforeseen personal matter” on the day she was to start in the position as the first woman to hold down the top position at the governing body of Canadian football.
Blue, who had been serving as the chief sports officer of Golf Canada, a role he held since 2021, is scheduled to take up his new position on March 14.
Canada Soccer said more than 200 candidates were identified throughout the four-month search process.
“In Kevin, we have a transformational and results-oriented leader on our team to help guide us towards a more positive future for soccer in Canada and to capture the incredible opportunities ahead,” Canada Soccer president Charmaine Crooks said in a statement.
Blue inherits a festering labour dispute with both the men’s and women’s national teams, an unwanted distraction ahead of the 2026 World Cup which Canada is sharing with the USA and Mexico.
In a video released by Canada Soccer, Blue acknowledged he was a “newcomer” to the Canadian soccer community and promised to “work diligently to earn your trust.”
He also said Canada Soccer will “look in the mirror and make the reforms necessary to be able to govern and operate our federation with the exemplary professionalism that is necessary for us to take advantage of upcoming opportunities and to solve some of our challenges that we have going on. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Unlike Walker, Blue also gets the title of CEO – the first time Canada Soccer has filled that position. Kevan Pipe, who worked at Canada Soccer from 1985 to 2006, doubled as general secretary and chief operating officer.
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