Rod Bryden

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.

Biography

Mr. Bryden was born on March 13, 1944, in Port Elgin, New Brunswick. Mr. 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, Mr. 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, Mr. 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, Mr. Bryden formed the World Heart Corporation in coalition with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Dr. Tofy Mussivand and Dr. Michael Cowpland. Mr. Bryden served as president and CEO of the company before resigning in 2004.

Late in 2004, Mr. Bryden avoided personal bankruptcy by using his excellent negotiating skills to convince his creditors to accept $600,000 instead of almost $100M of debt. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/11/30/bryden041129.html Bryden paying $600,000 to Senators' creditors ] ]

In 2005, Mr. 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. Mr. Bryden is also on the Board of Directors of Clearford Industries and Gallium Software Inc.

References

* [http://www.usask.ca/alumni/alumnisite/publications/green_white/issues/fall2000/970614512.shtml University of Saskatchewan alumni profile]
* [http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/286528825508849.php 2000 Ottawa CEO of the Year]
* [http://www.plascoenergygroup.com/content.php?cat=about&subcat=profile5 Profile at Plasco Energy Group]