It was announced Tuesday that Mark Weightman will be taking over as president and CEO of the Montreal Alouettes beginning April 11. Mark Weightman has an extensive resume of 28 years of experience in professional sports.

“It is a real privilege for me to be reunited with the Montreal Alouettes, a team I love, know and have always followed. I would like to thank Mr. Péladeau for the trust he has placed in me. Our team has a rich history to develop and promote. I will work on this enthusiastically with all the colleagues who are already at work, whether they are in our offices or dedicated to football operations under the guidance of our general manager, Danny Maciocia.” – Mark Weightman said in a statement.

“There’s a lot of work to do before the regular season kicks off, like the draft and training camp, but we all look forward to introducing you to your 2023 Alouettes.”

Mark Weightman has an extensive resume in professional sports including as President and CEO of the Alouettes from 2013 to 2016. Prior to that, he held various positions with the Als beginning in 1996. He has also played a role in restructuring European hockey teams working with a Swiss team in the National League as well as a Swedish team in the SHL. He has also previously worked for the Laval Rocket, Montreal Canadien’s ECHL affiliate.

Mark Weightman played a key role in the establishment and launch of the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL. Trois-Rivières began to play in 2021 where he also served as President and CEO. He assisted in the creation of the Montreal Alliance basketball team in the CEBL. It is fitting that the new Alouettes President has recent work with expansion teams during a time the CFL is refocusing its efforts toward expansion.

Alouettes’ owner Pierre Karl Péladeau has been busy since purchasing the Alouettes on March 10. A major partnership was announced just on Monday between the Alouettes and Videotron. One day later it is announced that the role of President has been filled.

“We want to welcome Mark Weightman back to the organization. We are very pleased to be able to count on him and on his vast experience in professional sports, including football. We are convinced that he will be able to meet the challenges facing us, with the collaboration of all the Montreal Alouettes’ employees.” Pierre Karl Péladeau said in a statement introducing the new president.

“Mark and I share the same vision for the long-term future of the team both in terms of its day-to-day management, its return to financial health and our desire to grow our group of core supporters at the stadium and in Quebec. These are conditions that will allow us to put Montreal back at the top of Canadian football.”

Péladeau also thanked Mario Cecchini who will be leaving their role as interim president to take over as Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “I would also like to thank Mario Cecchini for his work as president of the club over the past three years. He did his job under difficult circumstances.” 

Outgoing President Mario Cecchini also had nice words to share as he passed the torch to the new President. 

“It is with a sense of accomplishment that I close this chapter with the Montreal Alouettes. I am very proud of what we have achieved over the past three years, especially the relationship we have established with our fans. We have been juggling unique circumstances such as the pandemic and a change of ownership, but we have gone through this together.” Cecchini stated in the announcement reflecting on his time with the Als.

“I want to thank everyone I had the pleasure of working with here and across the CFL. Our organization is solid, motivated, and ready to begin a new season with renewed stability. I salute and thank Pierre Karl Péladeau for giving this team new life. I also wish Mark Weightman the best in his new role. And rest assured, even though I will begin working in the hockey world, I will remain a loyal supporter of the Montreal Alouettes.”

The passing of the torch to the new owner and President has gone very smoothly and there is much positivity from all parties involved.