The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) congratulates Anne Merklinger on her appointment to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Own the Podium (OTP). Merklinger assumes this new role after serving as OTP’s Director of Summer Sport since 2009. She has spent more than 20 years managing National Sport Federations.

PHOTO CREDIT - CTV.ca

Toronto - Jan. 27, 2012 - The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) congratulates Anne Merklinger on her appointment to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Own the Podium (OTP).

"Congratulations to John Furlong and Own the Podium on a marvellous choice. Anne Merklinger is a true leader and utmost expert of Canadian sport,” said COC President Marcel Aubut. “She is a good choice to lead this program into the future. The Canadian Olympic Committee looks forward to working with Anne and her colleagues at OTP in order to continue building the best possible sport system for Canadian athletes."

“Anne brings extensive sport management experience to the job,” said COC Chief Sport Officer Caroline Assalian. “As the funding partner of OTP, the COC and Sport Canada will work together to provide our athletes and coaches the tools they need to excel on the world stage and achieve their Olympic goals.”

Merklinger assumes this new role after serving as OTP’s Director of Summer Sport since 2009. A former national team swimmer and four-time Ontario Curling Champion, she has spent more than 20 years managing National Sport Federations.

The COC was the co-founding partner of OTP, with VANOC, Sport Canada, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Winsport Canada, and was the driving force to build that strong partnership into a national initiative, reflecting what Canadians want from Canada’s high performance athletes and advancing the “excellence” goal of the Canadian Sport Policy.