Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that Katherine Henderson is its next president and CEO following an extensive search.
Hockey Canada has a new president and CEO. The governing body hired Katherine Henderson following a lengthy search.
Henderson was the longtime CEO of Curling Canada and is the co-chair of the Winter Caucus of Sport, which works with Canada’s Winter Olympic and Paralympic programming.
“Katherine has the track record and experience to lead the ongoing transformation of Hockey Canada,” said Hugh Fraser, chair of the Hockey Canada’s board of directors in a news release.
“With her at the helm, we are confident that we will continue to take the steps necessary to ensure hockey is a safe and inclusive sport and that Hockey Canada benefits from best-in-class governance.”
Henderson’s hiring comes almost nine months after Scott Smith and the entirety of Hockey Canada’s board of directors stepped down following inquiries into sexual assault, abuse, and the use of funds to settle sexual assault claims through Hockey Canada that were concealed from the public.
With a new board of directors in place who achieved one of their main tasks of hiring a new CEO and president, the next steps for Hockey Canada include combatting the underlying culture of hockey that led to decades of safety issues.
According to Henderson, she sees a bright future for the sport in Canada.
“The future of hockey is limitless,” said Henderson.
“As a winter sport nation, with a long tradition in our ice and snow sports, playing and watching hockey is undeniably a part of who we are as Canadians. I am looking forward to working with our board and staff, our athletes, our members and local associations, our corporate and hockey partners, and our fans and participants to ensure that all Canadians have a personal hockey experience that is right for them.”
Henderson’s track record from Curling Canada was touted by Curling Canada’s board of governors, praising their outgoing leader.
“Our organization is undeniably in a better place because of the efforts of Kathy Henderson in collaboration with our staff and Member Associations over the past seven years,” said Michael Szajewski, chair of Curling Canada’s board of governors in a Curling Canada news release.
“Under her leadership, Curling Canada was able to put on successful championships during the pandemic, as well as challenging people to embrace new ways to welcome new curlers, through events such as the highly successful and thought-provoking Changing the Face of Curling symposium in 2022. We wish Kathy the very best in her new endeavour with Hockey Canada.”
Henderson has no small task in front of her with calls from across the hockey world seeking systemic change within the sport, particularly in how Hockey Canada approaches player safety, education, and equity initiatives.
Henderson will begin her appointment on Sept. 4, with her first appearance slated for the Beyond the Boards Summit recently announced by Hockey Canada.