Calgary businessman Kien Tran has been named CEO of Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada

Calgary businessman Kien Tran has been named CEO of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and will lead the search for a new high-performance director.

The organization announced Tran's appointment in a release Thursday and said he has more than 20 years of experience in investment banking and capital markets in Calgary and New York.

According to Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, Tran's immediate priority will be hiring a replacement for former director of high performance Chris Le Bihan, who left the organization in February. The new director is expected to be hired in May.

Tran will take over from Patrick Jarvis, who was appointed on an interim basis in March 2023 after former president and acting CEO Sarah Storey announced last year that she would not seek a third term amid calls for her resignation.

More than 70 athletes have called for the resignations of Storey and Le Bihan over what they call a toxic communication environment within the organization.

Tara McNeil, a Calgary sports physiologist who has the support of a group of current and retired athletes, succeeded Story as president. Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada also elected a new board of directors at the beginning of the year.

Most recently, Tran was president of the Calgary Blizzard, where he led the team through the COVID-19 pandemic and secured funding for the construction of the Shouldice Dome facility.

“Kien is a dynamic and enthusiastic leader who brings the energy, drive and skills necessary to lead our organization into a promising new future,” McNeil said in a statement. “He stands out based on his leadership qualities and business acumen, as well as a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing a nonprofit sports organization.”

Canada had a mixed skating season in 2023-24. Canadian bobsledders won just one bronze medal on the 2023-24 World Championship circuit and failed to make the podium at the 2024 World Championships.

But skeleton has had more success under new coaches Joe Cecchini, Kevin Boyer and Mikaela Widmer. Hallie Clark became the youngest women's world champion at 19, while veteran Mirela Rahneva won the World Cup.

This Canadian Press report was first published on May 16, 2024.

Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version stated that Joe Cecchini, Kevin Boyer and Mikaela Widmer coached Canada's Bobsleigh Skeleton athletes. In fact, they only train skeleton athletes.