THE INFLUENCERS SERIES: LEADING THE TRANSFORMATION OF MAPLE LEAF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT - FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE LOCKER ROOM. - Thursday, September 4th, 2025

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September 4, 2025 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM EDT

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TOPIC: LEADING THE TRANSFORMATION OF MAPLE LEAF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT - FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE LOCKER ROOM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: KEITH PELLEY, PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – MAPLE LEAF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT (MLSE)

Join ACG Toronto for another must-attend edition of The Influencers Series on Thursday, September 4th - at the TMX Market Centre. Hear from Keith Pelley, who was appointed as President & Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) in April, 2024. 

MLSE is one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment companies - as owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL), Toronto Marlies (AHL), Raptors 905 (NBA G-League) and Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro), hosting more than 3.8 million fans at its venues each year.

In addition to its sports franchises, MLSE’s LIVE division has established Scotiabank Arena as one of the leading music and entertainment venues in the world, bringing hundreds of world-class shows to the building each year. The company will lead a $350 million Venue Reimagination Project to enhance the venue’s standing as one of the best in the world. The organization’s charitable arm, MLSE Foundation, has invested more than $65 million to support the community over the last 15 years and has impacted more than 30,000 youth annually through community programs, including operating the largest provider of youth Sport For Development programming in Ontario with MLSE LaunchPad. 

Pelley, a Toronto native, joined MLSE following his role as CEO of the European Tour Group, which administers the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, Legends Tour, G4DS Tour and the Ryder Cup in Europe.

AGENDA: 

  • 7.30 - 8.15 am - Registration and networking
  • 8.15 am - Opening Remarks
  • 8.30 - 9.20 am – Keynote discussion
  • 9.20 - 9.30 am - Q&A from the audience
  • 9.30 – 10.00 – Networking

Registration is open to both ACG members and non-members.  This program will have limited capacity, with preferred rates for ACG members.

  • Date - Thursday, Sept. 4, 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  • Host venue – TMX Market Centre, 120 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON


Thanks to our Presenting sponsors:
•    Bennett Jones
•    The Covenant Group
•    Stanton Chase
•    The Poirier Group
•    TMX Group
•    Supporting Sponsor - Human Contact

SERIES OVERVIEW

  • This series features exceptional industry influencers who are changing the landscape in the Canadian, North American, and Global investment and M&A sectors.  The format is a 1/1 moderated interview with the keynote speaker - followed by an audience Q&A session.
  • All presentations include a networking reception with ACG members, corporate partners and mid-market M&A executives.
  • All presentations will be recorded and available for playback after the event date – to all attendees. 

PAST SPEAKERS

  • Jim Balsillie - retired Chairman and co-CEO of Research in Motion (BlackBerry) and founder of the Council of Canadian Innovators
  • Michael Lee-Chin - CEO, Portland Holdings Inc.
  • Jon Love - Executive Chair and Founder of KingSett Capital
  • John Ruffolo - Founder and Managing Partner, Maverix Private Equity
  • Jim Pattison - Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and sole owner of The Jim Pattison Group. 

Speakers

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Influencer Sept 4 KP

Keith Pelley

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)
President & Chief Executive Officer

Keith Pelley was appointed as President & Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) in April, 2024. MLSE is one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment companies as owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL), Toronto Marlies (AHL), Raptors 905 (NBA G-League) and Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro), hosting more than 3.8 million fans at its venues each year. 

In addition to its sports franchises, MLSE’s LIVE division has established Scotiabank Arena as one of the leading music and entertainment venues in the world, bringing hundreds of world-class shows to the building each year. The company will lead a $350 million Venue Reimagination Project to enhance the venue’s standing as one of the best in the world. The organization’s charitable arm, MLSE Foundation, has invested more than $65 million to support the community over the last 15 years and has impacted more than 30,000 youth annually through community programs, including operating the largest provider of youth Sport For Development programming in Ontario with MLSE LaunchPad. 

Pelley, a Toronto native, joined MLSE following his role as CEO of the European Tour Group, which administers the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, Legends Tour, G4DS Tour and the Ryder Cup in Europe. 

Under Pelley’s leadership, the European Tour Group introduced the Rolex Series, DP World’s title partnership of the group’s main tour, the G4D Tour for Golfers with a disability, mixed events with LET and LPGA, and staged the two most successful Ryder Cups to be played on European soil in Paris (2018) and Rome (2023). Pelley also guided the Tour through the global COVID-19 pandemic, negotiated the full acquisition of European Tour Productions from IMG and formed strategic alliances with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, as well as established pathways for other Tours onto the DP World Tour as part of the ongoing efforts to make global golf more aligned. Pelley also served as the Chairman of the International Golf Federation. 

Prior to joining the European Tour Group, Pelley served as President of Rogers Media from 2010 to 2015 where he was responsible for leading the overall operations of the company’s diverse portfolio including television, radio, publishing, digital media, The Shopping Channel, subscription-based content services, the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre. During his tenure, Pelley led the effort to secure the company’s groundbreaking 12-year broadcast and media rights deal with the NHL. 

From 2007 to 2010, Pelley was Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning at CTVglobemedia and President of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, where he led Rogers’ and CTV’s unprecedented coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, delivering the fifth most-watched event in Canadian television history and earning a record seven Gemini Awards for its coverage. 

Pelley served as President and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts from 2004 to 2007, winning the Grey Cup in his first season with the club, following his role as President of The Sports Network (TSN), the company he first joined in 1986. In 1994, Pelley left TSN for FOX, where he worked as a game producer for the NFL, NFL Europe, NHL, and MLB, returning to TSN in 1997 as Senior Vice-President of Programming & Production. Pelley was appointed President of TSN in 2001.

Pelley has devoted much of his time to numerous charitable organizations over the years, including Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and has received a number of industry awards and recognition, including twice being named Media Player of the Year (2012, 2011); Ryerson Alumni Achievement Award (2011); member of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame (2011); Special Olympics Ontario Sponsors Hall of Fame (2007) and Miles Nadal JCC Sportsman of the Year (2006). 

Pelley graduated from Ryerson University (now called Toronto Metropolitan University) with a BA in Radio and Television Arts, and also received an ATCL Diploma from Trinity College in London.

Pelley and his wife, Joan, are the proud parents of Jason and Hope.  

Event Secondary Body
  • REGISTRATION FEES

   -  ACG members - $135 + HST 
   -  Non-members - $207  + HST 
 

  • CAPACITY – This event has capacity limits, and we expect to sell out in advance.  If you want to attend after registration has been closed – you will be added to the waitlist.
  • FOOD & BEVERAGE 

    - For morning seminars - A light breakfast will be served

    - For afternoon seminars - A bar and snacks will be served

  • ATTENDEE LIST – A complete attendee list will be sent after the event.
  • PRICING – All tickets will be priced to include HST and a credit card processing fee.
  • ACG MEMBERS PRICING – ACG members – from any ACG chapter in North America – can register at the preferred member rate, which will provide a minimum savings of 30% off the non-member price.
  • CANCELLATION OR REFUND – ACG charges an administration fee of 50% of the ticket price for any cancellations requested by email less than 7 days prior to the event.  All other cancellations received by email 7+ days in advance will be reviewed by ACG staff for refund or transfer to be used for a future event. 
     

    For all enquiries please contact bdiallo@acg.org

    Hosted by: ACG Toronto


Hosted by: ACG
Chapter
Toronto
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