Candice Maxis to join COC as Chief People and Culture Officer

With a little more than a year to go for the Paris Olympic games, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced an important appointment of Candice Maxis as its new Chief People and Culture Officer. She comes in place of two-time Olympian Sandra Levy, who retired last month after helping transform the COC’s approach to people and culture. Maxis will help lead and shape the team behind Team Canada, supporting the Canadian Olympic Committee’s commitment to being one of the best workplaces in the country.

“Given my love for sports and the Olympic Movement, my professional background and my personal purpose combined, this role was simply the perfect match for me,” Maxis says. “The chance to be a part of an organization with the purpose to transform Canada for the better is truly exciting. I hope to be able to provide support and leadership to the great people at the COC while they navigate the rapidly changing world of business.”

Maxis will report to Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General, David Shoemaker. She will assume charge of her new assignment after Canada Day weekend on July 3. She will be responsible for continuing the evolution of the people and culture strategy for the COC, which ranks among the Best Workplaces™ in Canada.

Maxis brings over 15 years of corporate experience at some of the largest firms in Canada. She has spent the last four years with Deloitte Canada, most recently as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion developing and driving the firm’s DEI strategy and vision. Her career includes positions at Coca-Cola Canada, Bombardier and Intact.

“We are delighted to have Candice joining our senior leadership team,” says Shoemaker. “Having someone with her experience at the decision-making table while the worlds of sport and business undergo major transformations is so important. Candice’s extensive experience as a human resources business partner fostering inclusive work environments and developing talent will be a perfect fit for our culture and integral to our continued growth. We are incredibly excited to have her on board.

“I would also like to congratulate Sandra Levy on her incredible career and thank her for her transformative impact on our people, our values-based culture and the Olympic Movement at large. We wish Sandra the very best as she enjoys her well-deserved retirement.”

Maxis holds a Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) designation in Quebec. She has been recognized as one of WXN’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women and as one of Canada International Black Women Excellence’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada. She is a founding board member of the Afro descendant Leadership Alliance, a board member of both the Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal and an advisory board member of EIMHE.

Prabhjot Singh