Annie Larouche is officially the new president of the Montreal Alliance, the team announced Thursday. She thus became one of the first female presidents of a professional sports organization in the metropolis.
Until now, Larouche acted as vice-president of operations for the Alliance, which was founded in 2021 and which has just completed its second season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (LECB).
“Grateful for the opportunity” given to her, she pledges to continue to provide “an exceptional experience on game days and to make the Alliance a source of pride for Montrealers”.
“This journey has been marked by the passion, dedication and unwavering support of our incredible supporters and partners. Together we have reached remarkable milestones and I look forward to leading the Alliance into an even brighter future,” she said in a statement.
This is a sensible promotion for the one who has greatly helped to build the organization from the beginning, thus contributing to the progressive development of basketball in Quebec.
Under his leadership, the Alliance finished the 2022 campaign with the highest home game attendance average. Then, this year, the club surpassed 1,000 season tickets – and made a point of investing in youth by participating in more than 75 community events.
“Annie Larouche has done a great job as a resource person in the LECB preparing to launch an expansion team in Montreal, then launching the Montreal Alliance, and now strengthening her position in the Quebec market. said Mike Morreale, commissioner of the LECB.
Prior to the Alliance, Annie Larouche spent 25 years with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. She was notably Executive Director of the Alouettes Foundation and Community Relations, then Director of the Alouettes Alumni Association, in addition to having led the team of cheerleaders for a long time.
Joining France Margaret Bélanger, President Sports and Entertainment of the Montreal Canadiens, in a position in this category, Larouche solidifies her status as a competent, convincing and inspiring sportswoman in the Montreal ecosystem.
The Montreal Alliance finished its second season in Canadian professional basketball with a 7-13 record, good for fifth and last place in the Eastern Conference.
While that record is an improvement over last year’s 4-16 record, it still made the Allies the only team in the East that missed the playoffs.