Mark Weightman is back with the Alouettes as President and CEO, a role he held from 2013 to 2016.
“Returning to the Alouettes is something very special for me. I have always had this club in my heart for almost 30 years,” he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
The successor to Mario Cecchini, now commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ), however, returns to this job in completely different circumstances due to the purchase of the club by Pierre Karl Péladeau. This is also what mainly convinced him to abandon his position as president and CEO of the Trois-Rivières Lions, the Montreal Canadiens’ school club in the ECHL.
“What I particularly like is the arrival of Mr. Péladeau. This is a local owner, who is in it for the long term, who is involved for the right reasons and who understands the situation. Add to that the fact that there will be a great dynamic and synergy with several of Quebecor’s divisions.”
“We know we are counting on a solid foundation for the long term. The future of the organization has never been as bright as it is today.”
See, in the video above, the interview given by Weightman to LCN on Tuesday afternoon.
As is customary with the “Sparrows”, Weightman did not reveal the duration of the contract he signed. However, it is to be expected that he will be in office for a good while.
“It’s a long-term commitment on my part and that of Mr. Péladeau,” he said simply.
On the same wavelength
Prior to his first stint as president of the Alouettes, Weightman held various positions within the organization. He was hired by it in 1996.
That year, a certain Danny Maciocia also took his first steps in professional football as an assistant coach with the “Sparrows”.
“We have always been in contact and friends, except when he beat us in the Gray Cup final with Edmonton. [en 2003 et 2005]“, said Weightman jokingly about the one who has worked as general manager of the Alouettes since 2020.
The president explained that the presence of a football man of Maciocia’s caliber also had an impact on his choice to reconnect with the ‘Als’.
“When we talk about missions and values, Danny, Mr. Péladeau and I are all on the same wavelength.”
“Mark shares 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 increase our core of supporters at the stadium and in Quebec. These are the conditions that will allow us to put Montreal back at the top of Canadian football, ”said Mr. Péladeau in the press release announcing the hiring of Weightman.
Good words for Cecchini
Mr. Péladeau also expressed his gratitude for the work done by Cecchini, who was in charge from January 2020. Having seen his agreement not renewed by the former owners in December, he took over on an interim basis in February when the League Canadian football has put the club under guardianship.
“I would also like to thank Mario Cecchini for the work he has done as president of the club over the past three years. He did it masterfully in difficult conditions,” said the Montreal businessman.
Weightman meanwhile said he was “pampered” to take over from Cecchini.
“Mario has done an exceptional job, especially when you consider he had to deal with challenges like the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding previous owners. He and his team have been able to rebuild and develop good relationships with the fans.
“I now have to continue the good work that has been started to eventually take it elsewhere. I am blessed to arrive in a situation where everything does not have to change.