Alpine Canada names marketing vice-president

By Published On: November 10th, 2005Comments Off on Alpine Canada names marketing vice-president

Alpine Canada names marketing vice-president{mosimage}Andre Labine has been named Vice-President, Marketing and New Business Development with a clear mandate to strengthen the financial resources required to make Canada a world leading alpine racing country, Alpine Canada Alpine President Ken Read announced Thursday.

‘Andre brings to this critical role a wealth of experience in international marketing along with a life-long passion for ski racing’ said Mr. Read. ‘As the newest member of our team, Andre is integral to delivering the human, technical and financial resources to ensure our athletes have the means to reach the podium.’

Mr. Labine replaces Greg Scott, who, after eight years helping build Alberta Alpine and Alpine Canada Alpin, told the organization last spring he intended to pursue other business opportunities within a few months once several projects were completed. To smooth the transition, Mr. Scott will leave the organization in late January while Mr. Labine will join in mid November.

Mr. Read said Alpine Canada Alpin has significantly increased resources over the past four years by building solid marketing programs with both new and existing marketing partners such as CIBC, General Motors, TELUS, Husky Energy, Mars, Spyder, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and most recently PricewaterhouseCoopers, Inniskillin and Carlsberg.

‘To compete on a level playing field with the Austrians and the Americans and to achieve our goal of being a world leading country by 2010, we need more resources’ said Mr. Labine, ‘We must continuously strive to further the organization’s marketing, corporate sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives such as the Podium Club in preparation for 2010 and beyond.’

Mr. Read estimates Alpine Canada Alpin requires $3 million more annually to match and sustain the resources available within current world leading countries.

‘It has truly been exciting to be a part of the transformation Alpine Canada Alpin has undertaken under Ken’s leadership and the efforts of the staff, coaches and sponsors of ACA,’ said Mr. Scott. ‘I think the next five years and beyond will be amazing for ACA, the athletes of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the racers of the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team. I look forward to focusing on the sport as a fan as I feel that some remarkable performances are on the horizon from some amazing athletes.’

After graduating from Laurentian University, Mr. Labine started with Shell Canada in Northern Ontario as a sales trainee more than 25 year ago. Mr. Labine had a successful sales and marketing career with divisions of the company in Montreal, Toronto and Calgary. His introduction to ski racing came in 1983, where, as an Advisor in the Marketing Communications Department, he was involved in the ‘Shell Cup.’ In 1990, he was promoted to Export Manager-Lubricants, selling Shell products around the world.

In 1998, Mr. Labine retired from Shell to join Royal Lubricants now called Anderol Specialty Lubricants. In 2002 he was promoted to vice President Global Sales were he lead an international sales team working out of offices in East-Hanover New Jersey, Oakville Ontario, Maastricht Holland and Osaka Japan. Fluently bilingual in English and French, he also speaks Spanish.

In addition to his extensive international corporate experience, Mr. Labine brings to ACA a strong ability to lead, a broad knowledge of national and international sales markets, and a passion for ski racing. With more than 20 years as a ski racing volunteer, Mr. Labine has occupied leadership positions from the grassroots levels as Chief of race for the Juvenile Championships in 1999 to World Cup levels at the Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup and 2005 World Championships in Bormio (ITA).

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