Joey Saputo facts for kids

Giuseppe "Joey" Saputo was born on September 25, 1964. He is a Canadian businessman. He is well-known for starting and leading the CF Montréal soccer team in 1992. He also owns Saputo Stadium, which is named after his family's company, Saputo Inc.. Joey Saputo is also the chairman of an Italian soccer club called Bologna.

About Joey's Family

Joey Saputo's father is Emanuele "Lino" Saputo. Lino started a Canadian company called Saputo Inc. in 1954. This company makes many dairy products like milk and cheese. They also used to own Vachon Inc., which makes popular snacks like Jos Louis. Joey Saputo has four sons.

Joey's Career

Working at Saputo Inc.

In 1985, Joey Saputo started working for his family's business, Saputo Inc. This company processes dairy products. In 1990, he became the president and chief operating officer for the Dairy Products Division in the United States. He held different jobs in the company. In 2004, he became the Senior Vice President of Commercial and Business Development.

Leading CF Montréal

Joey Saputo was the first president of the Montreal Impact soccer team in 1992. At first, the Saputo Group owned the team completely. In 1999, the team was sold to a group of other owners. In 2002, the team became a non-profit organization. Joey Saputo helped a lot to restart the club and returned as its president.

He then led the building of Saputo Stadium, which became the team's new home. The stadium opened on May 19, 2008, in Olympic Park, Montreal. By 2007, he left the Saputo Group to focus only on the Impact team. In 2012, he helped the club join Major League Soccer, which is a big soccer league. He also oversaw the expansion of Saputo Stadium.

Under his leadership, professional soccer became very popular in Quebec. The Impact team won three championships and two Canadian championships. They also reached the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League. In 2021, the team changed its name to CF Montréal.

Owning Bologna Football Club

Joey Saputo is the main owner of a group that bought the Italian soccer club Bologna on October 15, 2014. He was chosen to be the next chairman of the club on November 17, 2014.

Other Business Activities

Besides his work with Saputo Group and CF Montréal, Joey Saputo also helps manage his family's money. This money is managed by Jolina Capital, which is the Saputo family company. He was the president of Jolina Capital from 2001 to 2004. Jolina Capital owns parts of many different companies. These companies work in areas like food, transportation, wood, and real estate.

Saputo is also on the board of directors for TransForce. This is a Canadian company that deals with transport and logistics. He has been an independent director there since 1996.

Giving Back to the Community

Joey Saputo is very involved in the community in Montreal. He is on the boards of several important groups:

• The Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre Foundation, which supports a hospital for children.
• PROCURE, an organization that works to prevent and cure prostate cancer.
• The Italian-Canadian Community Foundation. His father moved from Montelepre, Sicily, in the 1950s.