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Abbotsford Canucks announce front office additions

Rob Mullowney named COO, Raj Mutti hired as VP, Business Operations
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Rob Mullowney (left) has been named the COO of the Abbotsford Canucks. Raj Mutti (right) is now the team’s VP, Business Operations.

The Abbotsford Canucks announced two significant additions to the club’s front office staff on Monday (July 19).

Rob Mullowney is the team’s Chief Operating Officer and Raj Mutti has been named Vice-President, Business Operations.

Mullowney has been involved in the launch of two previous Canadian American Hockey League franchises, the St. John’s IceCaps and the Belleville Senators.

He has been the Belleville COO and Alternate Governor since Jan. 2017 and also served as the Ottawa Senators Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships since May 2019.

Mullowney was also the Vice-President, Operations for the IceCaps from 2011 to the Dec. 2016. That five year period saw the team enter the St. John’s market from Manitoba. The team’s parent club, the Winnipeg Jets, then moved the team back to Manitoba for the 2015-16, but the Montreal Canadians assumed the IceCaps moniker for two additional seasons before moving their affiliate to Laval in 2017.

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Under his leadership these teams have been recognized on 12 separate occasions for excellence in sales and marketing, including the prestigious President’s award for overall business excellence. In 2013 he was named the league’s Ken Mackenzie Award winner as the AHL’s top marketing executive.

Mullowney has professional ties to Vancouver, having worked on the sponsorship and marketing teams for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and later as an Associate Partner of Vancouver-based sports marketing firm, TTG Canada.

Mullowney holds a Master’s Degree in Sport Management from University of New Brunswick.

The COO job posting was originally posted on May 18.

Mutti will report to Mullowney and the Canucks stated he is “responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic business plans for all operations at the Abbotsford Centre with a focus on creating the ultimate fan experience.”

Mutti most recently held the role of Executive VP, Operations for the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation where he oversaw and developed 13 locations including all casinos, hotels, and hospitality operations. Prior to that, he oversaw seven of the properties within the Gaming Corporation’s western operations, including a $20 million renovation to Vancouver’s marquee Hard Rock Casino - which included multiple restaurants, a theatre, and a full-service casino with over 650 staff.

He has been involved with GCC since Jan. 2013.

Before joining the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, Mutti served as GM at Hastings Racecourse and Fraser Downs, where he introduced “Friday Night Racing” and opened Hastings Racecourse Casino. He worked there from Nov. 2009 to Aug. 2013.

Mutti holds an Animal Science/Business Management Degree from the University of Arizona and previously studied in the Business Management program at SFU.

He was also named the Tri-Cities Young Professional of the Year in 2016.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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