Business executive Kevin Gilmore leaves Canadiens after five years

MONTREAL – Executive vice-president and COO Kevin Gilmore will leave the Montreal Canadiens after five years on the job to pursue other business oportunities, the NHL club announced Wednesday.

“It is never easy to see a person of that quality leave the company, but Kevin will remain involved with the organization as a consultant on certain projects for the next few months,” team president and owner Geoff Molson said in a statement.

The club said the team has had strong growth under Gilmore’s leadership.

He was involved in inking a 12-year broadcast deal with TVA Sports and Sportsnet and helped create the 24CH series of documentaries that look behind the scenes at the day to day activities of players and management. He also launched Club 1909, a rewards program that looks to connect with fans around the world, as well as real estate deals that has seen condo and office towers sprout up around the Bell Centre.

“Although it is difficult to come to a decision like this one and step away from my childhood team, I feel the timing is right for me to move on to another professional challenge, while remaining close to the organization for the foreseeable future,” said Gilmore.

No successor was named.