TORONTO - Toronto FC has named Preben Ganzhorn as its new Director of Marketing and Community. He has extensive marketing experience, having most-recently served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Callaway Golf Canada.
“I am a man who follows my passions and football is one of them” said Ganzhorn. “I grew up in Copenhagen (Denmark) in the seventies. If you weren’t a football fan then you didn’t grow up in Copenhagen in the seventies,” joked Ganzhorn. “Football was a way of life.”
Although Ganzhorn only officially joined Toronto FC this past week, he has been involved with the club since its infant stage. Prior to joining Callaway Canada, Ganzhorn occupied the role of Director of Marketing for Carlsberg Canada, and it was he who negotiated and secured brewery sponsorship for Toronto FC and BMO Field.
“We’re very happy to have Preben on board. He brings a great marketing pedigree and he brings a real football fan’s perspective” said Paul Beirne, Senior Director of Business Operations for Toronto FC. “I’ve known Preben for many years now and he is a perfect fit for our club moving forward. He is not only an elite marketer and leader, but incredibly passionate about football and this club.”
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Ganzhorn, a graduate of Marketing from Aarhus Business School and a graduate of Harvard’s famed Program for Leadership Development, identified Toronto FC as a breakout North-American brand, and is among those that predicted it to be the lasting success it has been.
“When I heard about Toronto FC, I immediately knew it would be a success in this market and I reached out to them looking to secure the Carlsberg deal. I knew something special was happening and I wanted to be a part of it.”
With his new role with the club, Ganzhorn is indeed very much a part of it and enjoyed an eventful first week with the club: “It’s been a whirlwind week with the great win in Dallas and my first home match ending in a hard-fought tie on Saturday, it’s been a great start. I really look forward to chatting more and hearing from our fans and supporters. I am and have always been an ambassador of open lines of communication between the front office and fans. I’m a fan too.”
Ganzhorn is definitely a fan of Toronto FC as well as international football, and has already earned a reputation around the office for striking up a good football conversation. “Being from Denmark, I’m not shy about my allegiance, I’m very proud and excited about Morten Olsen’s (national team) qualifying for Euro 2012. I am also very proud that my hometown team FC Kobenhavn is the Danish champion. I can’t wait for Toronto FC to become champion too. I can only imagine what our city will be like when we lift MLS Cup.”
One week on the job and he is already echoing our fans’ sentiments.
