Former COC, MLSE exec Alyson Walker named Canada Soccer's general secretary

Alyson Walker, whose resume includes stints with Bell Media, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has been named general secretary of Canada Soccer.

Walker, who is set to start Jan. 22, becomes the first woman to hold down the top staff position at the governing body of Canadian soccer.

Canada Soccer says more than 200 candidates were identified throughout the four-month search process conducted by Korn Ferry. Former national team captain Jason deVos, who previously was Canada Soccer's director of development, has held down the general secretary job on an interim basis since Earl Cochrane stepped down in late April.

But Canada Soccer made good on its pledge to fill the general secretary position by end of year.

"Alyson brings extensive business experience to her new role, and we are confident in her ability to lead us forward," Canada Soccer president Charmaine Crooks said in a statement Friday. "This important step signals a new direction for our organization as we unite our membership and continue to build toward the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a home FIFA World Cup in 2026."

Crooks thanked deVos for filling the gap, saying "we look forward to his ongoing contributions."

WATCH | Christine Sinclair bids farewell:

Walker's hiring now paves the way for Canada Soccer to find a permanent coach for the men's national team. Mauro Biello has served as interim coach since John Herdman resigned in August to take over Major League Soccer club Toronto FC.

Walker has an extensive marketing background.

She had two stints at Bell Media, including serving as vice-president of brand partnerships and client strategy from 2016 to 2019. Before that she spent 20 months at MLSE as vice-president of content and almost four years as the Canadian Olympic Committee's executive director of marketing partnerships and licensing.

Most recently she served as chief commercial officer at OverActive Media, a Toronto-based esports organization.

Change and controversy have been the major constant at Canada Soccer in recent times.

Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis resigned his elected position in late February, acknowledging change was needed to achieve labour peace. Crooks, a former Olympic track star, took over as acting president and was subsequently voted into the job.

Cochrane came and went after taking the general secretary role on a permanent basis in July 2022 following an "extensive global recruitment process" as Canada Soccer stayed in-house to find a successor to general secretary Peter Montopoli.