Vancouver, BC – TTG Canada, one of the most respected marketing and strategic partnership entities in Canada, announced significant leadership changes today. Bart Given has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer and will oversee both TTG Partnerships and TORQUE Strategies. Chief Operating Partner Bill Cooper is departing TTG to join the Invictus Games Foundation’s Senior Leadership Team as Chief Commercial Officer.
With Founder and Managing Partner Andrea J. Shaw and Bart Given leading the way, TTG Partnerships and TORQUE Strategies are in a strong position as they continue to build brand partnerships with clients and transformative new approaches to marketing and sponsorship in 2023 and beyond.
“We are most fortunate to have excellent leaders at TTG and the promotion of Bart Given to CEO is well deserved heading into this important year,” added Shaw. “Our focus for 2023 is expansion through diversification and market development, and this change gives Bart a terrific opportunity to lead us forward. We began his transition from Managing Director to CEO in the fall and I am absolutely thrilled to have his experience, passion, creativity and energy leading our team.”
“It’s a true honour to have this opportunity to support the work of our team who continue to deliver exceptional results on behalf of our clients,” said Bart Given. “This next year, and the years beyond, present a huge opportunity to grow our presence and impact across Canada. I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside Andrea and a team led by values and focused on delivering excellence on behalf of our clients at TORQUE and TTG. We have more exciting announcements in the days and weeks ahead.”
Bill Cooper was TTG’s first hire and helped build the company to what it is today. Most recently, he was TTG’s lead on the Invictus Games file and has developed strong relationships since then and helped shape the IGF’s partnership program which resulted in crucial secured funding.
“I’ve always said I was most proud of the people who came through these doors. Bill has been here since day one and is not only a great leader, but a great friend,” said Andrea J. Shaw. He helped lay the foundation of the values we live by every day and created partnerships with some of the best global events and sports brands. I am thrilled for his new opportunity and wish him all the success in the world.”
New CEO Bart Given has led TORQUE Strategies as Managing Director since early 2014 and was previously a Senior Partner at the TwentyTen Group.
While at TTG, Bart was responsible for Growth and Client Services through an impressive development phase for the team and was a proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee account that delivered record-setting revenue through developing values-based partnerships within the corporate sector.
Having provided strategic direction for clients such as Hudson’s Bay, Canada Media Fund, CIBC, DHL, Save-On-Foods and Hockey Canada, Bart is passionate about uncovering and amplifying shared passion points between consumers and brands.
Before TTG, Bart spent over a decade working in professional sports, including fulfilling a dream as Vice-President of Baseball Operations & Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to making trades and signing free agents, he held various marketing roles within the Blue Jays and Toronto Argonauts.
Never one to shy away from sharing his opinion, Bart put his extensive MLB expertise to work as a regular guest on radio and online publications such as Sporting News Radio, XM Home Plate and Sportsnet.ca. He continues to opine about his past and present professional passions as a feature speaker at conferences and workshops throughout North America.
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ABOUT TTG PARTNERSHIPS
TTG Partnerships was born as a legacy of the Vancouver 2010 (“TwentyTen”) Games and has since been stacked with Olympic calibre bench strength. TTG is a values-led organization and invests heavily in a culture founded in creativity and service excellence.
Driven by a vision of “Elevating the potential of sport, culture and community”, TTG has a tremendous track-record of delivering events and funding for venues, properties and organizations across Canada.
Best known for helping to raise a record-setting corporate support for the Olympic Movement in Canada, TTG has recently supported the bid to bring the Invictus Games 2025 to Canada, while continuing to support sponsorship development on behalf of the HSBC Canada Sevens, YYC Airport, YVR Airport, espnW Summit Canada and the recently launched Vancouver FC football team.
ABOUT TORQUE STRATEGIES
TORQUE Strategies is a catalyst for brands to reach their potential through insight, imagination, and impact. Founded in 2014 as part of the TTG Canada family of agencies, TORQUE builds unique solutions of enduring meaning and value for clients across corporate, not-for-profit and sport sectors with services including brand strategy and narrative development, marketing campaigns and programs, and revenue generation & fundraising.
A strategic marketing agency by trade, TORQUE has worked with regional, national, and international clients winning awards, setting world-records, and generally doing whatever it takes to connect authentically with the audience.
TORQUE’s current roster includes the likes of HSBC Canada Sevens, Canada Media Fund, Save-On-Foods, More Rewards, HSBC Canada Sevens, Hockey Canada, Great Western Brewing, City of Surrey and the 5X Festival.