Arrows make leadership change as GM Mark Winokur steps down

The Toronto Arrows have made an immediate change to their senior leadership. Long-standing Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Mark Winokur has stepped down, with Rugby Ontario board member Tim Matthews named Vice-President and GM.

It’s a significant change in direction for the Arrows. Winokur is a co-founder of the club and along with club President and co-owner Bill Webb brought professional rugby to Canada for the first time in 2019. The Arrows evolved from the highly-successful Ontario Blues provincial program, which Winokur managed for years prior to making the move to Major League Rugby.

A highly-rated flanker in his playing days, Matthews represented Ontario and played for the Pacific Pride during their final season before the program was initially disbanded in 2005. The 42-year-old has since worked as a business executive in the private sector.

Winokur will stay in the organization as a Senior Advisor.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve as the team’s first general manager and an honour to work with such a talented group of players and staff over the past six years. I’m very proud of what our team has accomplished over this time, notably bringing professional rugby to Canada and establishing the Arrows as a fixture in the Canadian and North American sports landscape.

“I look forward to continuing to help the club develop a number of initiatives that require attention as we continue our push to bring the MLR Shield to Toronto, and to develop our brand, for years to come. I am pleased to have enjoyed a 20-year relationship with Tim Matthews going back to our club rugby days here in Ontario, and I know he will serve superbly as Arrows VP and General Manager.”

Webb also attached a statement in a news release.

“On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank Mark for his tireless leadership and dedicated service. Without Mark’s vision, drive and initiative, the Arrows would not have come into being.

“Mark’s role was critical in assembling the Arrows roster from scratch in our early days, demonstrating viable success during our 2018 proof-of-concept season, building a ready-to-compete team that earned a playoff berth in our inaugural 2019 MLR season, and providing the club with a strong foundation to succeed as we prepare for the 2023 season.

“Tim’s in-depth knowledge of the Canadian rugby landscape, coupled with his leadership skills and business acumen, will be valuable assets to our club as we grow and target winning the MLR Shield. With Tim stepping into his new role right away and primed to hit the ground running, the transition will be seamless. Preparations for our upcoming campaign are continuing as planned, and we won’t miss a beat as we ramp up for the exciting milestone season ahead.”