The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Mackie as its new Executive Director. Following an extensive national search conducted in partnership with Alexander Whitehead Executive Search firm, Mackie has been selected to lead the CFLPA in its ongoing mission to protect and advance the rights and interests of CFL players. Mackie will serve as the second full-time Executive Director in the Players’ Association’s history.
Mackie, a former CFL player, brings a wealth of experience in leadership, advocacy, and player representation. He served as a Player Representative for his team, the BC Lions, for five years (2019-2023) and was elected as the CFLPA’s 3rd Vice President during the 2024 season. His deep understanding of the game, combined with his passion for supporting his fellow athletes, makes him an ideal choice to guide the CFLPA into the future.

“I am truly honored to take on the role of Executive Director for the CFLPA,” said Mackie. “As a very recently retired former player, I understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities that our members face. I am committed to ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected as we work together to strengthen our association and our league.”

In addition to Mackie’s appointment, the CFLPA is also enhancing its legal operations with the addition of Andre Gougen, as in-house legal counsel/COO. The expertise of employing a trained labour lawyer in this position will provide the association with the ability to address grievances more efficiently and expedite legal matters concerning player representation. Long-time CFLPA General Counsel, Art Vertlieb, will be moving into a Senior Legal Advisor role within the association.

CFLPA President Solomon Elimimian expressed his confidence in Mackie’s leadership and the future of the organization, “David brings the passion, and leadership necessary to build on the progress we have made as a union. His dedication to our members and vision for the future will be invaluable in advancing the CFLPA’s mission. We are also excited to have a trained labour lawyer joining our team to further strengthen our legal capabilities.”

The CFLPA would also like to extend its gratitude to Peter Dyakowski, who served as Interim Executive Director during a pivotal transition period. His leadership and insights have been instrumental in shaping the direction of the association, and many of his contributions will continue to have a lasting impact. “We are grateful to Peter for stepping up during this time of transition,” added Elimimian. “His hard work and commitment to our organization and members have helped position us for future success.”

“Our transition is already well-underway; I’ve been spending time daily with David for the past several weeks, ensuring that there will be no disruption in services to our members over the course of this evolution in our leadership”, said Interim Executive Director, Peter Dyakowski. “I’m thankful for the support of our staff, directors, and membership over the course of this important period of growth in our association.”

About the CFLPA: The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Since 1965, the Association has worked to establish fair and reasonable working conditions while protecting the rights of all CFL players. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CFLPA provides a variety of member services, builds corporate and community partnerships, and works diligently for the betterment of its membership. For the latest news regarding the CFLPA, please visit www.cflpa.com or follow us on social media @CFLPA.