TORONTO, April 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiidal Gaming, a Canadian leader in professional esports and entertainment, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey L. Orridge as Chairman. Mr. Orridge is an accomplished and respected senior executive who has held high-ranking positions in multiple renowned national and international sports, media, and entertainment organizations, including the Canadian Football League (CFL), Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canadian Tire, Mattel, Right to Play, Reebok, USA Basketball and Warner Brothers.
Mr. Orridge will play a pivotal role in stewarding Tiidal Gaming by bringing the best practices of traditional sports and entertainment into the gaming and esports space while providing strategic and analytical guidance to the company. An attorney by trade, having obtained his Juris Doctor from Harvard, his experience in corporate governance combined with his expertise in complex corporate sponsorships, global branding and marketing, enterprise growth, and revenue generation makes him the ideal person to guide Tiidal Gaming’s growth.
“As the esports industry continues to develop, being able to attract and retain top talent remains crucial to our success both in competitive gaming as well as at the corporate level,” said Charlie Watson, CEO, Tiidal Gaming. “Jeffrey Orridge is one of Canada’s most accomplished sports executives and we could not be more pleased and excited to have him join the Tiidal team. Jeff’s history speaks for itself. He has added immense value to each organization that he has been a part of, while making an indelible mark in the world of sports, entertainment, and media.”
“I am excited to join the Tiidal Gaming Board and contribute strategic guidance and oversight to this quickly growing enterprise, which is one of Canada’s leading esports organizations,” said Jeffrey Orridge, Chairman, Tiidal Gaming. “The ascent of esports has caught the world by storm. Charlie Watson is one of the Canadian pioneers in this industry and, with that history and endemic understanding of the space, adds tremendous value to the company as it looks to scale using many of the same channels through which I have had success in my career. I look forward to bringing my playbook to help Tiidal Gaming become a global leader in this burgeoning industry.”
Mr. Orridge previously held the position of Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the CFL, as the first black Commissioner of any major professional sports league in North America, where he provided cross-functional management of corporate partnerships, marketing, communications, as well as player health and safety.
Prior to his trailblazing work with the CFL, Mr. Orridge was the Executive Director of CBC Sports and General Manager of the Olympics division, where he successfully negotiated the media rights to four Olympic Games and structured a multi-year sub-licensing agreement to maintain and amplify the iconic Hockey Night in Canada broadcast and brand. He has also held key leadership positions at Canadian Tire as Senior Vice President, Community and Partnerships; Right To Play International’s Chief Operating Officer & Head of Global Business Development; Mattel, Inc. as Vice President, Corporate Strategic Planning; Warner Bros. Director, Sport Licensing; Reebok International’s Director, Global Sport Marketing; and USA Basketball as Head of Business and Legal Affairs, which received the 1992 Sports Marketer of the Year award.
In addition to his extensive boardroom success, his progressive vision has been felt outside of professional sports having developed the first-ever league-wide CFL policy on violence against women and expanding the partnership with You Can Play, an international organization focused on inclusion of the LGTBQ community in sport.
Mr. Orridge has been the recipient of several prestigious awards including the African Canadian Achievement Award for Excellence in Sports, the Historical Canada’s Trailblazer Award, the Beacon of Industry Award presented by the Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association and Attorney of the Year presented by the National Bar Association.
About Tiidal Gaming Group Inc.
Tiidal Gaming is a leading premier esports and entertainment company. Our mission is to be the most culturally impactful global gaming organization. We are a platform company focused on enabling three areas: esports, entertainment, and gaming ecosystem. With deep roots in esports and a history dating back to 2010, our competitive team brand Lazarus Esports, which was originally founded as SetToDestroyX, was Canada’s first esports group and manages and supports our top ranked athletes. We’re reimagining the future of gaming, competitive play, and entertainment. For more information visit www.tiidal.gg.
Media Contacts
Danielle Sefton
Lamb Creative Group
416-998-3264
danielle@lambcreativegroup.com
Jennifer Mason
Lamb Creative Group
416-456-1042
jennifer@lambcreativegroup.com
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