Report: Hockey Canada to name Katherine Henderson as new CEO

According to Radio Canada’s Martin Leclerc, Hockey Canada is set to name Katherin Henderson as the organization’s next CEO.

Hockey Canada declined to comment on Henderson’s pending appointment, with no set time for the announcement. Henderson’s most recent role was serving as CEO of Curling Canada, a job she has held since 2016. She’ll replace Scott Smith, who resigned from Hockey Canada back in October.

According to Henderson’s Linkedin page, she has previously served as the senior VP of marketing and revenue for the 2015 Pan-American Games and other roles with Colgate, Campbell Soup and Whirlpool.

The move comes in the wake of the scandal involving 2018 World Junior Championship team members that has been linked to sexual assault allegations. Hockey Canada has been under fire for handling the allegations, with the organization and the London, Ont. police reopening their investigations. A woman alleged she was assaulted by eight team members during a Hockey Canada Foundation gala in 2018.

Since Smith stepped down, the organization has installed a new board of directors, with a focus on landing a new CEO. With the appointment, Henderson will become the first woman to serve as Hockey Canada’s CEO.

Many of Hockey Canada’s biggest sponsors, including Tim Hortons and Canadian Tire, have either adjusted how they advertise with the company, or pulled funding altogether.

The organization has held two world juniors, the 2023 women’s World Championship and various other national team events since the case came to light. The 2022 world juniors, in particular, had very few visible sponsors throughout the tournament.

Canada is currently ranked first overall in both the men’s and women’s IIHF world rankings. Canada won gold at the 2022 and 2023 world juniors, 2023 women’s U-18 World Championship and the 2023 men’s World Championship. The women’s team took home silver in Brampton back in April, while the men’s U-18 team won bronze later that same month.