The hockey club says Jim Little brings a wealth of business strategy experience to Senators Sports and Entertainment
The Ottawa Senators have named Jim Little as the team’s new chief executive officer.
The NHL club said in a statement Friday that Little will be responsible for the overall business strategy of the organization, with a special focus on marketing and strengthening community relations.
The Senators are in need of a public relations boost. Fans have often had a combative relationship with owner Eugene Melnyk and the team has been disappointment both on the ice and in the stands in recent years. According to ESPN, Ottawa ranks last among NHL teams with an average attendance of 11,732 per game this season, well below teams in “non-traditional” markets such as Florida and Arizona.
Melnyk had been acting as the Senators’ CEO since the team parted ways with Tom Anselmi in February 2018.
Little, 55, was most recently executive vice-president and chief marketing and culture officer for Shaw Communications. He has held several senior executive roles at Royal Bank, Bell Canada, and Bombardier.
