Canadian Alpine ski team member, Marie-Pier Prefontaine, from Saint-Sauveur, Que., skis while training for the 2014 Sochi Olympics at Sunshine Village near Banff, Alta., on May 2, 2013.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Roger Jackson was appointed interim president of Alpine Canada on Monday.
A 1964 Olympic gold medalist in pairs rowing, Jackson has more than three decades of high-performance sports administration experience. He was the founding CEO of the Own the Podium program between 2005-2010, which helped Canada win a national-record 14 gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Jackson takes the reins of Alpine Canada, the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing, from Max Gartner, who resigned in June.
"I'm pleased to assist Alpine Canada during this time of transition," Jackson said in a release after agreeing to serve on a temporary basis.
He is not a candidate for the permanent position.
"My goal is to provide interim leadership to the organization from this point until the new chief executive is in place," said Jackson. "We will support the athletes, coaches and staff and help them build momentum going into the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, in 2014."
Jackson was also a senior adviser to the London 2012 Olympic Bid Committee and has been developing strategic plans to further improve Canada's high-performance sport system as a consultant.
"(Jackson) is a very experienced and successful leader who will give Alpine Canada and our partners and supporters great stability and continuity during the course of our search for a replacement for Max Gartner," said Danny Minogue, chairman of Alpine Canada's board of directors. "Max has made a long and lasting impact on (Alpine Canada) by always working hard to find the best coaching and management combinations to power our athletes to Olympic, world championship and World Cup medals.
"He will be missed but after over 30 years of service his contribution to ski racing in Canada will always be remembered."
Gartner had worked for Alpine Canada in various coaching and management positions since 1982. He had planned to leave when his contract expired after the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but decided to tender his resignation early in order to ensure a new president and CEO is in place for a crucial 2013-14 season.
Gartner, who has yet to indicate his future career plans, will assist Jackson during the transition.