Mentioned in this article Games: Overwatch Teams: Splyce

Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) CEO Chris Overholt will become team president of the Overwatch League (OWL) expansion franchise in Toronto, sources told SportsBusiness Daily.

Overholt today said he would be leaving the COC after eight years, and will be replaced by Senior Advisor/Corporate Secretary Robin Brudner on an interim basis. Overholt did not identify his next employer, only to say he would be taking a leadership role that would be announced soon.

But OWL sources confirmed that Overholt has agreed to lead the new team, which is being bankrolled by Penguins investor Michael Kimel, OverActive Media Group, Splyce (the esports team partially owned by Delaware North), and Westdale Construction.

Overholt’s participation was a condition of Activision Blizzard approving the Toronto franchise, sources said (UPDATE: An Overwatch League spokesman has disputed this account). Overholt is among the most prominent sports business execs yet to turn to esports. Before the COC, he had stints with the Dolphins, NHL Panthers, and MLSE. Overholt did not return messages seeking comment.

Ben Fischer is a staff writer for SportsBusiness Daily, where this article appeared first.