Rod Bryden
Encyclopedia
Rod Bryden is a prominent Ottawa
business executive. He is best known as the owner of the Ottawa Senators
National Hockey League
team from 1992 until 2003. Outside of hockey, his career has included founding or leading several of Canada
's leading companies.
. Bryden obtained a B.A. Hon. Ec., from Mount Allison University
in Sackville, New Brunswick; an LLB, University of New Brunswick
, Fredericton; and an LLM, University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor.
He taught law at the University of Saskatchewan
as assistant law professor, from 1966 to 1969 before moving to Ontario, where he held a succession of positions in the Canadian government.
In 1974, Bryden founded Systemhouse Ltd.
, a computer integration firm where he served as president or chairman until 1991. In 1979, he founded Paperboard Industries Corporation (PIC) by purchasing Trent Valley Paperboard Mills. He served as chairman of PIC until 1991. Both companies were enjoying annual revenues of over $700 million when he stepped down that year.
In 1992, Bryden became CEO of Terrace Corporation, the principal owner of the Ottawa Senators
. In 1993, he became Chairman and Governor of the Club. In 1994, construction on the Palladium arena (later the Corel Centre and now Scotiabank Place
) was begun by the Palladium Corporation, of which Bryden was the owner and chairman. The arena opened in 1996.
In 1996, Bryden formed the World Heart Corporation in coalition with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Dr. Tofy Mussivand and Dr. Michael Cowpland
. Bryden served as president and CEO of the company before resigning in 2004.
Late in 2004, Bryden avoided personal bankruptcy, brought on by $100 million of debt personally owed to creditors and investors of the Ottawa Senators franchise. Bryden agreed to pay creditors a total of $600,000 on the debt, which was induced by high player salaries and unfavourable exchange rates.
In 2005, Bryden was appointed as the new chairman of cancer drug developer PharmaGap, Inc.
Currently, he is President and CEO of Plasco Energy Group, an Ottawa firm developing energy production using plasma gasification
, from household waste. He also is the chairman of the board of SC Stormont Inc., and Chairman of the board of PharmaGap Inc. Bryden is also on the Board of Directors of Clearford Industries and Gallium Software Inc.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
business executive. He is best known as the owner of the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
team from 1992 until 2003. Outside of hockey, his career has included founding or leading several of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's leading companies.
Biography
Rod Bryden was born on March 13, 1944, in Port Elgin, New BrunswickNew Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. Bryden obtained a B.A. Hon. Ec., from Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
in Sackville, New Brunswick; an LLB, University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
, Fredericton; and an LLM, University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Ann Arbor.
He taught law at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
as assistant law professor, from 1966 to 1969 before moving to Ontario, where he held a succession of positions in the Canadian government.
In 1974, Bryden founded Systemhouse Ltd.
MCI Systemhouse
MCI Systemhouse , a subsidiary of Washington, DC-based MCI Communications Corporation, was the result of the merger of Canadian company SHL Systemhouse with MCI's technical services branch. The new company was formed to provide systems integration and outsourcing services.On February 11, 1999, MCI...
, a computer integration firm where he served as president or chairman until 1991. In 1979, he founded Paperboard Industries Corporation (PIC) by purchasing Trent Valley Paperboard Mills. He served as chairman of PIC until 1991. Both companies were enjoying annual revenues of over $700 million when he stepped down that year.
In 1992, Bryden became CEO of Terrace Corporation, the principal owner of the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. In 1993, he became Chairman and Governor of the Club. In 1994, construction on the Palladium arena (later the Corel Centre and now Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place is a multi-purpose arena, located in Kanata, a suburban district of Ottawa, Ontario. It is home to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It has also hosted the Canadian University Men's Basketball Championship...
) was begun by the Palladium Corporation, of which Bryden was the owner and chairman. The arena opened in 1996.
In 1996, Bryden formed the World Heart Corporation in coalition with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Dr. Tofy Mussivand and Dr. Michael Cowpland
Michael Cowpland
Michael Cowpland is a British-born entrepreneur, businessman, and the founder and one-time president, chairman and CEO of Corel, a Canadian software company.-Early life:...
. Bryden served as president and CEO of the company before resigning in 2004.
Late in 2004, Bryden avoided personal bankruptcy, brought on by $100 million of debt personally owed to creditors and investors of the Ottawa Senators franchise. Bryden agreed to pay creditors a total of $600,000 on the debt, which was induced by high player salaries and unfavourable exchange rates.
In 2005, Bryden was appointed as the new chairman of cancer drug developer PharmaGap, Inc.
Currently, he is President and CEO of Plasco Energy Group, an Ottawa firm developing energy production using plasma gasification
Gasification
Gasification is a process that converts organic or fossil based carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. This is achieved by reacting the material at high temperatures , without combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam...
, from household waste. He also is the chairman of the board of SC Stormont Inc., and Chairman of the board of PharmaGap Inc. Bryden is also on the Board of Directors of Clearford Industries and Gallium Software Inc.