April 7, 2009
McMaster Announces new Director of Athletics and Recreation
Hamilton, ON. April 7, 2009 –McMaster students, athletes and the community will be the winner with the appointment of Jeff Giles as McMaster’s new director of Athletics and Recreation.
Giles is a graduate of Queen’s University where he was a track and field athlete. He went on to become a Chartered Accountant and has had a significant career in business with many connections to athletics including seven years as the Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Football League.
“Jeff brings a unique combination of talents and experience to McMaster,” said President Peter George. “He shares our commitment to student-athletes and has the skills and vision to build on McMaster’s strong athletics tradition and to capitalize on our new facilities which are the best in the country.”
Giles will join McMaster on June 1. “I’m anxious to get started,” he said. “McMaster has an incredible reputation for focusing on students and to providing the very best coaches and staff. I look forward to working as part of the team to build the University’s reputation for athletics and recreation and to develop the resources needed to support our continued success.”
The University conducted a national search and had a very strong field of candidates. Associate vice-president, Student Affairs and dean of Students Phil Wood said there was a lot of interest in the job. “We had some very big shoes to fill. Therese Quigley is respected throughout the University, in the local community and across the country for her belief in students and in McMaster. We are confident that Jeff will build on that legacy and will open up new opportunities for the University and our athletes.”
Giles is currently the co-founder and president of MedProDirect, a leading edge specialty product and medical supply company. He served as director of corporate finance at Price Waterhouse Coopers Securities Inc. and during his time at the CFL he negotiated highly successful television revenue agreements and served one year as president of the Toronto Argonauts.
McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 140,000 alumni in 128 countries.
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For additional information contact:
Robert Hilson
McMaster Athletics and Recreation
McMaster University
905-525-9140, ext.23665
Michelle Donovan
Public Relations Manager, Broadcast Media
McMaster University
905-525-9140, ext. 22869