New CEO of Toronto Pan Am Games

TORONTO, Canada, December 15, 2013 – The Hon. David Peterson, chair of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) and board of directors, has appointed Saad Rafi as the new chief executive officer of TO2015.

Rafi will replace current TO2015 CEO Ian Troop who is leaving the organization.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I’d like to extend our sincere gratitude to Ian for all of his hard work, his commitment and his contributions,” said Peterson. “Our capital projects are on time and on or under budget. We wish him well.”

Rafi takes over the leadership of TO2015 as the organization begins to move from the planning stage to the operational stage in advance of the Games.

Rafi currently serves as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Health. In this role, Rafi administers an annual budget for the Health Ministry of $48 billion, which is the largest health budget in Canada. During his 25-year career, Rafi has also built a successful advisory practice in infrastructure and was a partner with Deloitte and Touche, LLP.

“I am very excited that Saad has agreed to take on this important role,” said Peterson. “This is a huge, complex endeavour and Saad has all of the necessary experience and expertise to ensure these are the best Pan Am/Parapan Am Games ever.”

The operational phase of the Games involves the coordination among a number of Games partners including all levels of government, representatives of the sport community and members of the 41 Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) nations. TO2015 is tasked with the responsibility of planning, managing and delivering the Games.

Rafi will take over as CEO on January 6, 2014. In the interim, the chair will assume the duties of the CEO.

The mission of the Organizing Committee is to ignite the spirit through a celebration of sport and culture. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10–26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–14.

 The 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as other partners and sponsors. CIBC is the Lead Partner of the Games.