Former CFL commissioner Mark Cohon joins Northern Super League as board chair

Former CFL commissioner Mark Cohon is joining the new Northern Super League as chair of its board of directors.

Cohon succeeded Tom Wright as CFL commissioner in 2007, signing a three-year contract extension in 2012. He stepped down in January 2015 ahead of his contract expiration in April 2015.

"Mark brings a lot to this role," said NSL president Christina Litz. "Obviously an all-Canadian league is quite rare. So, having that experience with the CFL and being able to bring that perspective, particularly in terms of governance and organization and helping set culture across the board, is really unique.

"And he knows that. So, it's great to have him as we begin our journey here."

The six-team women's pro soccer league is set to kick off in April with teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

Cohon and Litz have a working history.

Cohon hired Litz at the CFL in 2014 as head of broadcast and digital. Their paths crossed again on the board of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/Juno Awards which Cohon chaired from September 2015 to September 2022.

"I always known him to be a big thinker," said Litz, who worked for the CFL until 2019 with her last position as chief marketing, digital and strategy officer. "He had big ambitions for the CFL that were achieved while he was there. And he was like that at the Junos board as well, really pushing us constantly — as a board and with management there — to think as big we could. So I know he's going to do this here and I love that.

"The women who have been playing this game really deserve us to be thinking and acting as big as possible."

WATCH | Ranking every Northern Super League team name, logo:

Ranking every NSL team name, logo

Cohon's