Collection: James Johnson

James Johnson is a globally recognised sports and entertainment executive and lawyer with more than two decades of senior leadership experience across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

He was appointed Group CEO of Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment (CSME) and Commissioner of the Canadian Premier League in July 2025 to accelerate the growth and transformation of Canadian soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Johnson leads the group’s overall strategic direction, aligning commercial growth, media innovation, and sporting performance to strengthen the business of Canadian soccer. He also serves on the board of OneSoccer.

Previously, Johnson served as CEO of Football Australia, where he led a period of transformation marked by record commercial growth, strong national team performance, increased participation, and the successful bidding and hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament delivered a lasting legacy, unlocking $389 million in government investment to support the sport’s growth in Australia. He also secured record broadcast agreements with Paramount+, Network 10, and Disney+.

His career includes senior executive roles with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and City Football Group, where he built a reputation as a commercially driven and innovative leader advancing sport both on and off the pitch.