Canadian promoted to high-ranking NFL job
Mary Ann Turcke to take over as COO after stint with league’s network Canadian Mary Ann Turcke will be the top-ranking woman at the NFL’s office.
The NFL has promoted Canadian Mary Ann Turcke to chief operating officer, making her the highest-ranking woman at the league offices. Turcke has overseen NFL Network in the last year. She replaces Tod Leiweke, who has left the league after three years in the job.
Turcke will lead the marketing, communications, human resources, international and events and technology departments.
“Since joining NFL Media last year, Mary Ann has distinguished herself by leading NFL Network to a record-setting year,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We look forward to Mary Ann building upon this success, and her previous achievements as president of Bell Media, as she steps into this larger role. I expect her leadership, vision and corporate governance experience to help evolve our organization and take it to a higher level.”
According to the Network’s website, Turcke will be responsible for leading the operations of the NFL Network, as well as overseeing NFL owned and operated media assets including NFL Films, NFL Digital and NFL.com.
Originally from Kingston, Ont., Turcke joined Bell Media Inc. in 2005 as its vice-president of customer experience and operations for small medium business. Seven years later, she was promoted to president after then president, Kevin Crull, admitted to trying to influence national news coverage of a CRTC decision.
According to a Bloomberg profile, Turcke began her career as a district manager for the Ministry of Transportation in her hometown. Later on, she became a partner and member of the board of directors at Codesta LLC, a software consultan- cy group that specializes in enterprise applications and solutions, according to NFL’s website.
Turcke’s long list of accomplishments in corporate performance and community service were recognized in the Women’s Executive Network Hall of Fame as she joined their annual list of Most Powerful Women Top 100 in Canada in 2009, 2010, and again in 2012.