Jeffrey Orridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeffrey Orridge
Orridge during first year as CFL Commissioner
Born	Jeffrey Lyndon Orridge 1960 (age 64–65) New York City, U.S.
Nationality	American-Canadian
Known for	CEO of TVOntario, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League Executive Director of CBC Sports General Counsel, USA Basketball

Jeffrey Lyndon Orridge, born in 1960, is a very important leader in Canadian media and sports. He is currently the chief executive officer (CEO) of TVOntario, which is a TV network that helps people learn. He started this role on November 30, 2020. Before this, he was the 13th commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the first African-American person to lead a big sports league in North America. He also worked for Right to Play and CBC Sports.

Early Life and Education

Jeffrey Orridge grew up in New York City. His mother was a nurse and social worker. His father worked for the city's public transport system. When he was in school, Jeffrey enjoyed sports. He played basketball and participated in track and field. However, he had a knee injury that stopped him from playing basketball.

He went to the Collegiate School. After that, he studied psychology at Amherst College, graduating in 1982. He then went to Harvard Law School and finished his law degree in 1986.

Jeffrey Orridge's Career Journey

After finishing law school, Jeffrey Orridge started his career in law. He worked at a company called Rogers & Wells. Later, he became a leader at Home Attendant Corp. at North General Hospital.

Working in Sports and Entertainment

In 1991, Jeffrey Orridge joined USA Basketball. This group helps organize the Olympic sport of basketball in the U.S. He was their first lawyer who worked only for them. He left in 1994 to work for Reebok International.

In the late 1990s, he became a global sports marketing director for Reebok International. He also worked for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, helping with sports-related products. He held other important roles, including senior vice president at Momentum Worldwide and chief marketing officer for OneNetNow. He also worked for Mattel Inc., a big toy company, where he helped with licensing and new business ideas.

Helping Children Through Play

In 2007, Jeffrey Orridge became the chief operating officer (COO) at Right to Play in Canada. This organization uses sports and play to help children in countries that are facing difficulties. He worked there until 2011.

Leading CBC Sports

In April 2011, Jeffrey Orridge became the executive director of CBC Sports Properties. He was also in charge of the Olympics coverage for CBC. During his time there, CBC Sports lost the rights to broadcast "Hockey Night in Canada," a very popular hockey show.

Commissioner of the CFL

In March 2015, Jeffrey Orridge made history. He became the 13th commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the first African-American person to lead a major sports league in North America.

In April 2017, it was announced that he would step down from his role as CFL commissioner. This was because he and the board of governors had different ideas about the future of the CFL. His last day as commissioner was June 15, 2017. Jim Lawson took over for a short time, and then Randy Ambrosie became the new commissioner on July 5, 2017.

Current Role at TVOntario

Since November 30, 2020, Jeffrey Orridge has been the chief executive officer (CEO) of TVOntario. This is a public TV network in Ontario, Canada, that focuses on education and learning.