Michael Merrall

As Senior Vice-President & Managing Director of IMG-Canada, Michael helped build a sports marketing powerhouse over his 13 years with the company, eventually being naming by the Globe & Mail as one of the 10 most powerful people behind-the-scenes in Canadian sport.

Michael started at IMG in 1990 when the company had less than 10 full-time employees and its largest event was the CPGA Championship on the Canadian Golf Tour.  He played a pioneering role in the creation and production of several company-owned events such as Stars On Ice, the Skate The Nation tour, the Skins Game (PGA Tour professionals), the Nations’ Cup (LPGA golf professionals), the Canadian Professional Figure Skating Championships, the Gold Championship (figure skating event for NBC), the Sahara Cup (international cricket), the Queen’s Park Grand Prix (cycling) and the Drive For Gold (Olympic hockey promotional tour).

Michael also played a central role in the acquisition of commercial sponsorship and television rights for a long list of prestigious sports federations including Hockey Canada, Soccer Canada, the Royal Canadian Golf Association and the World Curling Tour.

In consulting, Michael led a team that consulted for organizations like American Express, Zurich Insurance, TD, CIBC, SkyDome, Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In television, Michael oversaw a team that sold over 600 hours of sports and entertainment programming to Canadian networks each year.  He also helped create, produce and negotiate original programming and live sporting events.

Prior to joining IMG, Michael had a 7-year career in advertising, promotion and public relations serving clients such as Gatorade, Petro-Canada, the Canada Cup of Hockey and Esso.

Michael spends time at homes in both Toronto and British Columbia.