JO-ANNE POLAK APPOINTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOOTBALL ‘TRAILBLAZER’ BRINGS SENIOR MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE TO FOOTBALL CANADA
OTTAWA & VANCOUVER – Football Canada is proud to announce the appointment of Jo-Anne Polak to its Board of Directors, effective immediately, with a term extending until 2026. Ms. Polak brings an exceptional blend of communications expertise and passion for the sport, underlined by her trailblazing role as the first female General Manager in North American professional sports with the Ottawa Rough Riders Football Club.
“We are thrilled to have a person of Jo-Anne’s professional stature, who also possesses a lifelong passion about growing Football,” Football Canada president Jim Mullin said.
“Ever since my Rough Rider days back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, I have only fallen in love with the game more, with each passing year.” Polak said.
“Football Canada is giving me a dream opportunity to serve both the sport I love, and Canadians who love it as much as I do,” she said.
Since April 2008, Ms. Polak has been an integral part of Canada Post Corporation’s communications team. She currently holds the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate and Employee Communications. Her portfolio includes media relations, social media, video production, graphic services, language services, writing services, and corporate events. She has also is responsible for Canada Post’s iconic National Stamp Program, the beloved Santa Letter Writing Program. She also leads the Canada Post Community Foundation which raises and disperses funds to child-based charities in the communities served by Canada Post.
Her prior experience includes impactful positions at Hill & Knowlton Canada, where she honed her crisis communications skills, managed high-profile mergers and acquisitions, and oversaw corporate communications. She demonstrated her leadership as the General Manager for the Toronto office and contributed significantly to H&K’s Global Crisis and Mergers & Acquisitions teams.
Before her time at Hill & Knowlton Canada, Ms. Polak co-hosted a morning show for Country 105 CKBY Ottawa and served as General Manager for the Ottawa Rough Riders Football Club. Her early career included vital roles in public relations and marketing with Continental Golin-Harris and Interac Communications, where her clients included the CFL and the Ottawa Rough Riders. She played a prominent role in the Ottawa 1988 Grey Cup Committee and provided constituency support for MPPs in Ontario.
Her lifelong commitment to football is evident through her continuous support as a season ticket holder for the Ottawa REDBLACKS, the Ottawa Renegades, and the Ottawa Rough Riders since 1987. She has also been a season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills since the 2000 season. Her contribution to the sport was recognized by the Canadian Football League and Ottawa Redblacks as part of the Diversity is Strength Program in August 2018.
“Jo-Anne brings us the kind of responsible, senior leadership our sport requires as we prepare for our push toward LA ’28, and continue our mission of growing the tackle game as we have for 142 years,” Mullin said.
Please join us in welcoming Ms. Jo-Anne Polak to the Football Canada family, where her vast experience and passion for football will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and success of the sport across Canada.
For all media inquiries:
Kevin McDonald
Interim Managing Director
[email protected]
