Longtime Bell Media executive Stewart Johnston is shifting his focus to become the 15th commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).will now focus that wealth of insight and experience on building his vision for the Canadian Football League (CFL) as its 15th commissioner.

As senior vice-president of content and sales at Bell Media, Johnston translated more than 25 years of experience into content development across all English- and French-language video, audio and digital platforms. In that time, Johnston worked across Bell Media’s extensive range of assets, including CTV, Crave, TSN, RDS, Noovo, Bell Media Studios and iHeartRadio Canada.

Johnston is taking over the role of commissioner from Randy Ambrosie, who will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the league office until Johnston officially takes on the role on April 24.

In his new role, Johnston says he’s keen to honour the league’s past, while setting the stage for the next generation of fans and players.

“It’s been wonderful to see how far the league has come, with special thanks to Randy’s stewardship,” Johnston says. “But it’s the future that excites me. It’s what’s to come that inspires me. As we look ahead, our mission is clear: to grow the game of football, to enhance the entertainment experience for our fans, and to ensure the sustainability and success of our league for generations to come.”

Johnston will be formally introduced as the CFL’s new commissioner at a media conference later this month.

The league will welcome the next wave of Canadian talent at the CFL Draft on April 29. Training camps will open on May 11 before the preseason gets underway on May 19. The season kicks off June 5 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the Ottawa RedBlacks.