Paul Godfrey, President & CEO, Postmedia Network
Roundtable Luncheon - The Evolving Canadian Media Landscape
Mr. Godfrey is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Postmedia Network Inc. Postmedia Network Inc. is a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 200 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. He was appointed to this position on July 13, 2010, after he led a successful buy-out of Canwest Global Communications Inc.’s newspaper and online digital media assets. This new media company is Canada’s largest publisher of paid English-language daily newspapers.
Prior to the start of Postmedia Network Inc., Paul Godfrey served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Post from January 1, 2009 to July 12, 2010.
Mr. Godfrey was appointed Chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) by the Ontario Provincial Cabinet and served in this role from January, 2010 to May, 2013.
Mr. Godfrey is a life-long Torontonian. He attended Bathurst Heights Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1962 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering.
Mr. Godfrey’s career encompasses long stints in the publishing business, professional sports management and politics.
Mr. Godfrey entered politics in the previously known Borough of North York. He was elected a Councillor in 1964 and an Alderman in 1966 and 1969. He was appointed Controller in 1970 and was re-elected to that position in the general election in 1972. In 1973, Mr. Godfrey was elected by the Metropolitan Toronto Council as its Chairman. This was prior to the 1998 amalgamation of the City of Toronto. Mr. Godfrey held this position, known as Metro Chairman, for four terms - a record 11 years.
In August 1984, Mr. Godfrey left the political world to take on the role as Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Sun newspaper. In April 1991, he was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto Sun Publishing Corporation and, on November 5, 1992, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. In 1996, Mr. Godfrey successfully headed up a management-led buy-out of the company and the Sun Media Corporation was subsequently was formed in October, 1996. Mr. Godfrey held the position of President and C.E.O. of Sun Media Corporation until his departure on June 30, 2000.
Following Rogers Communications Inc.’s purchase of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, Mr. Godfrey was appointed the Club’s President and Chief Executive Officer on September 1, 2000. Mr. Godfrey was previously involved with the Club, as he was part of the group (during his career as Metro Chairman) which lobbied to bring a Major League Baseball club to Toronto, a dream that was realized when the Blue Jays played and won their first home game on April 7, 1977 at Exhibition Stadium on a snowy day.
In September, 2008, Mr. Godfrey announced his decision to leave his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Jays and Rogers Centre at the end of that year.
Mr. Godfrey serves on the following boards:
RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, Chairman
Cargojet Income Fund, Trustee
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Vice-Chair
Mr. Godfrey was Chairman of the Molson Indy Board of Trustees from 1987 to 2005 and also Chairman of its successor, the Grand Prix Charitable Foundation of Toronto, from 2006 to 2007.
Mr. Godfrey is a great fan of the National Football League and he continues to pursue, on behalf of Toronto, an NFL franchise for this wonderful city.
Mr. Godfrey has received many honours. In 1990, he received the City of Toronto’s highest award, the Civic Award of Merit. In 1998, Mr. Godfrey received the Award of Merit from B’nai Brith Canada. In 1999, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2001, he received an Honorary Doctorate (Hon.D.Eng). from Ryerson University. In 2004, Mr. Godfrey was honoured to receive the University of Toronto’s Engineering Alumni Medal. In January 2010, Mr. Godfrey received Ontario’s Highest Honour – the Order of Ontario.
He was the Salvation Army’s National Spokesperson from 2002 to 2009.
Mr. Godfrey is married to the artist, Gina Godfrey. They have three sons, Rob, Noah and Jay, three daughters-in-law, seven granddaughters and one grandson.
One cause near to the Godfreys heart is The Herbie Fund, a charity that Paul and Gina founded in 1979. The Fund provides financial support so that children from around the world can receive life-altering and life-saving surgical treatment at The Hospital for Sick Children. To date, more than 680 children from more than 100 countries have been treated through The Herbie Fund.
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