Speaker Profile: Tom Wright Director of UFC Canadian Operations
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - Submitted by MH
Tom Wright is the Director of UFC® Canadian Operations. In this executive position, Wright leads operations and development of the UFC® brand and business across Canada.
Specifically, Wright focuses on developing relations with all levels of government and local communities, building PPV, broadcast and sponsorship opportunities while also establishing the UFC’s event schedule in Canada.
Wright also leads all efforts surrounding UFC Community Works®, an initiative aimed at helping communities across Canada with a particular focus on at-risk youth.
Since opening its office in 2010, Wright and his team have been successful in securing the sanctioning of the sport of MMA in Ontario, hosting the UFC’s most successful event ever with UFC®129 at Rogers Centre while also establishing long term broadcast agreements with Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
In 2012, Wright also further entrenched the UFC’s strong presence north of the border with the announcement of three annual global premier events in Canada for each of the following three years – a first for the organization. An accomplished and respected business and community leader, Wright has extensive experience in the North American sports industry that spans more than 30 years.
Before serving four years as Commissioner for the Canadian Football League, Wright was the President and CEO for Salomon North American, President adidas Canada LTD and President of Spalding Canada LTD. He has also been significantly involved with Special Olympics in Canada as a volunteer for more than 25 years and served as the organization’s National Board Chairman. He remains active on this board as well as a Director of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation, which he joined in 2002. Most recently, Tom was Managing Director of Level 5 Strategic Brand Advisors, one of Canada’s foremost business and brand strategy firms working with many of North America’s and the world’s leading brands.
Tom is a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada where he lives with his wife, Ginnie, their three daughters and one granddaughter.
