Richard Peddie

Richard A. Peddie (born January 1947 ) is a Canadian businessman. He is the former president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment.

Career Peddie was president and CEO of SkyDome from August 1989 to 1994. In 1993, he took a leave of absence for six months to join Larry Tanenbaum's Palestra Group, which included Labatt, in their pursuit of an expansion National Basketball Association team for Toronto, which was ultimately awarded to a competing group and became the Toronto Raptors. While employed by the SkyDome, he was twice offered the head job of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, who played at the SkyDome.

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Richard Peddie was named president and CEO of the Toronto Raptors in November 1996. After Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. (owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs) purchased the Toronto Raptors and the arena the team was building, Air Canada Centre, on February 12, 1998, Peddie took control of the renamed Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in October 1998, On December 9, 2011, shortly before Peddie retired, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan announced the sale of its 79.53% majority stake in MLSE to Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, in a deal valued at $1.32 billion.

Post MLSE

Richard Peddie now owns and operates an independent book store called "River Bookshop" in the town of Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada.

Personal life Born in Windsor, Ontario, Peddie graduated from the University of Windsor in 1970 and received an honorary doctorate from the institution in 2001. Peddie lives in Amherstburg with his wife.