Word has come out (see curling.ca) that Curling Canada C.E.O. Katherine Henderson is moving on. She will become the next C.E.O. of Hockey Canada.

I have two initial reactions. First – what a great hire by Hockey Canada. Second – what a loss for Curling Canada.

I had the privilege of serving on the Curling Canada Board of Governors in Katherine’s early years as our C.E.O. I have no more than an observant sports fan’s perspective on the challenges facing Hockey Canada, but those observations tell me she is perfect for the job.

Katherine is a strong leader, an intelligent well-spoken woman, and a person who really cares. She cares about the staff and the Board members, the staff-board relationship, and most importantly about the people who play the game (and after all, those are the people every sport association exists to serve!).

It might be fair to say, despite curling having some challenges of its own, that hockey needs her more than we do at this moment in time.

Good luck Katherine! Good luck Hockey Canada! Good luck to the next Curling Canada C.E.O. – you’ll have a tough act to follow but your skill set will serve curling in important ways, just as Katherine’s did.