Mortimore will fill the role of director, planning and operations beginning August 3 in Ottawa.

Mortimore has worked her way through the Canadian sport system while serving a variety of leadership positions with Athletics Canada since 1990 before appointed as the chief executive in 2005.

"Joanne is an extraordinary performer who is a creative and strategic thinker, and a strong leader with a proven track record in managing the financial framework of a successful organisation, which will make her a valued member of our team," said Alex Baumann, Own the Podium's chief executive.

"The addition of Joanne to our organisation rounds out Own the Podium’s high-powered leadership team whose mandate is to build on the momentum created in 2010 in order to guide Canadian athletes to new heights of success in 2012 and beyond."

Mortimore joins a newly-created and high-profiled executive management team led by Baumann.

Focused on shaping Own the Podium’s new vision for the future, while upholding the same core goal to help Canadian athletes win more Olympic and Paralympic medals, the team also includes: Ken Read, who was recently appointed director of winter sport; Anne Merklinger, who was named director of summer sport in August 2009; and Dr. Jon Kolb, who is responsible for the creation, implementation and assessment of an integrated sport science and medicine program for Own the Podium.

In her new role, Mortimore will plan and direct the corporate operations of Own the Podium, which includes formulating corporate policies, preparing annual budgets, overseeing the corporation’s human resources, and developing communications strategies and tactics designed to increase the organization’s international profile.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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