• Hosford will receive the award at the Strategy Awards on October 1 in Toronto
  • Joins prestigious list of famous Canadians and marketing/agency execs

Toronto, September 19, 2019: Over the last five years, in her role as Chief Marketing Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Shannon Hosford has led the rebranding of both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, including the introduction of ‘We The North’, a campaign that has been recognized as one of the top Canadian marketing campaigns in history and played a significant role in the direction of the Raptors which culminated with the team’s first NBA Championship last June.

Hosford’s lengthy track record of success over her 19 years in marketing leadership at MLSE made her the “number one draft pick” for ACA’s 2019 Gold Medal Award winner. The Gold Medal recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of marketing communications in Canada.

“Shannon Hosford is an innovative leader with a lot to be proud of,” said Ron Lund, President and CEO of the ACA. “The vision and creativity with which she approaches brand challenges and her exceptional leadership qualities make her distinctly influential in Canada’s marketing landscape.

“On behalf of our tremendously talented marketing team at MLSE, I am grateful for the recognition and am very proud of the impact our teams and our work has on our fans and our city,” said Hosford. “We recognize every day how fortunate we are as we work to connect our fans and our teams, and this recognition from the ACA makes our work even more rewarding.”

Hosford leads all marketing and communications for MLSE, one of the largest and most diverse sports portfolios in North America, including The Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, MLSE LIVE and MLSE Foundation.

Among Hosford’s accomplishments are a successful bid for the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend and the erection of Leafs Legends Row, statues that celebrate the most iconic players in Toronto Maple Leafs history. Under Hosford’s leadership, the MLSE marketing team was awarded the CLIO Sports Awards Grand Prize and the In-House Agency Forum Awards Gold Prize. She has also led the charge in ensuring MLSE’s commitment to highlighting the cultural diversity of its fans.

In recognition of her actions, Hosford was nominated for the 2017 Premier’s Award for Outstanding Ontario College Graduates and was name Adweek’s “33 Media, Marketing and Tech Stars Who’ve Helped Make Toronto a Vibrant Creative Hub” in 2018.

In addition to her work in marketing, Hosford is involved in many philanthropic and community endeavors, including serving on the boards for MLSE Foundation and Canada Basketball as well as volunteering over the years with Habitat for Humanity and Free The Children, which took her on missions to Kenya, New Orleans and Jamaica.
Hosford will receive the Gold Medal Award at this year’s Strategy Awards, October 1 at Arcadian Court in Toronto.

About the ACA Gold Medal Award

The ACA Gold Medal Award is:

  • Open to all individuals in activities that have an impact on marketing communications in Canada (client marketers, agencies, media, researchers, academics, associations, etc.)
  • Awarded for a single achievement, or for accomplishments over time
  • Awarded to a candidate whose contribution represents a measurable, distinctive advancement in the practice of marketing communications in Canada

Since its inception, the ACA Gold Medal Award has been presented to a distinguished list of industry leaders and visionaries. View the full list of past honorees.

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