Mario Cecchini (businessman)

{{Short description|Canadian media and sports executive}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Mario Cecchini | occupation = Media executive, sports executive | known_for = President of Montreal Alouettes; Commissioner of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League }}

'''Mario Cecchini''' is a Canadian media and sports executive. He has served as commissioner of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League since 2023, and previously was president of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He has worked for multiple media companies, including 15 years for Telemedia Radio.

==Media== Cecchini had a 15-year career with Telemedia Radio, where he was of vice president of sales and marketing and executive vice-president in charge of the company's Ontario stations. In 2002, he became the vice president of sales for the TQS Television Network. In 2003, he was appointed president and chief operating officer of Zoom Media.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zoom Media |work=The Globe and Mail |date=February 27, 2003}}</ref> He then served as a vice-president of Corus Québec. In 2011 he became the senior vice-president, sales and marketing at Astral Radio.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mario Cecchini, former vice-president of Corus Quebec, moves to Astral Radio |work=The Canadian Press |date=February 23, 2011}}</ref> In 2013, Cecchini joined Corus Entertainment as president of Corus Media Quebec. In this role, he oversaw the company's radio and television stations in Eastern Ontario as well as French-language cable television assets and Ottawa radio stations acquired from Bell/Astral.<ref>{{cite news |title=Press Release: Mario Cecchini Joins Corus Entertainment |work=Dow Jones Institutional News |date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> In 2018 he started his own consulting firm.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Alouettes president Cecchini has history of turning businesses around |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>

==Canadian football== In 2020, Cecchini was named president of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alouettes hire Danny Maciocia as GM, Mario Cecchini as president |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> Under Cecchini's leadership, the Alouettes saw increased corporate sponsorship and average attendance rose from 13,063 in 2021 to 17,683 in 2022. In December 2022, the estate of Sid Spiegel, which had controlling interest in the team, informed Cecchini that his contract would not be renewed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zurkowsky |first1=Herb |title=Alouettes won't be renewing contract of president Mario Cecchini |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/alouettes-wont-be-renewing-contract-of-president-mario-cecchini |work=Montreal Gazette |date=December 19, 2022}}</ref> On February 14, 2023, the Canadian Football League took control of the Alouettes and Cecchini returned to the team as interim president.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ralph |first1=Dan |title=CFL takes over ownership of Montreal Alouettes franchise |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/article-cfl-takes-over-ownership-of-montreal-alouettes-franchise/#:~:text=Cecchini%20was%20hired%20as%20Alouettes,East%20Division%20standings%20last%20year. |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=February 14, 2023}}</ref> The team was sold to Pierre Karl Péladeau on March 10, 2023, and Cecchini stepped down as president on April 6, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-montreal-alouettes-sale-1.6774706|publisher=CBC|date=March 10, 2023|title=CFL sells Montreal Alouettes to businessman Pierre Karl Peladeau}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Message From Mario Cecchini |url=https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2023/04/06/a-message-from-mario-cecchini/ |website=Montreal Alouettes |access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref>

==Junior ice hockey== On March 7, 2023, Cecchini was named commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He succeeded 37-year commissioner Gilles Courteau who resigned amid political scrutiny over hazing in hockey. Cecchini took office on May 8, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Interim Alouettes president Mario Cecchini named QMJHL commissioner |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/interim-alouettes-president-mario-cecchini-named-qmjhl-commissioner/ |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=Sportsnet |date=March 7, 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, the QMJHL changed its name to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blouin |first=Maxime |url=https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/the-qmjhl-becomes-the-quebec-maritimes-junior-hockey-league/ |title=The QMJHL becomes the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League |website=CHL.ca |date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/chl/qmjhl-changes-name-to-better-represent-its-six-maritime-teams-1.2049005 |title=QMJHL changes name to better represent its six Maritime teams |website=TSN.ca |date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cecchini, Mario}} Category:Astral Media people Category:Canadian radio executives Category:Canadian television executives Category:Montreal Alouettes team presidents Category:Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League executives Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people)