James Johnson

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JAMES JOHNSON

Sport is no longer just played on the field - it is built, distributed, and monetised as content. I work at the intersection of sport, media, and entertainment - building platforms, shaping competitions, clubs, and turning sporting assets into scalable, investable ventures. As Group CEO of Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment and the Commissioner of the Canadian Premier League, I lead the strategic direction of the Group - setting vision, strategy, shaping culture, allocating resources, and acting as its public face. My focus is on unlocking long-term enterprise value by aligning media rights, distribution, governance, and commercial strategy to drive sustainable growth. My career spans senior roles across global sport with FIFA, City Football Group, and Football Australia. I’ve worked across rights, regulation, and major tournaments - including leading the co-hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 - with a consistent focus on how sport can be scaled as both a cultural and commercial asset. I began my career as a commercial lawyer, which continues to inform how I approach complex transactions, governance, and capital. Today, my work is centred on building modern sports businesses where media and content are the primary drivers of value. I’m particularly interested in:* Investing in and scaling sports properties * Media rights, distribution, and monetisation * League, competition, and club design * The convergence of sport and entertainment Always open to conversations with investors, operators, and partners looking to build what’s next.