The CFL has found its new commissioner.

Stewart Johnston, the longtime executive with Bell Media and president of TSN, will take over from Randy Ambrosie as commissioner later this month.

鈥淚 am deeply humbled and profoundly honoured by this incredible opportunity,鈥� said Johnston, who spent more than 25 years at the Canadian sports network after graduating from Queen's University with a business degree.

Johnston will officially begin his tenure as the 15th CFL commissioner on April 24, the league said. He'll replace Ambrosie, a former Grey Cup champion who later served in the role beginning in 2017.

Ambrosie announced his retirement from the role in October 2024. The 62-year-old will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the league office until Johnston's official appointment.

鈥淥n behalf of the Canadian football community, I鈥檇 like to extend our gratitude to Randy,鈥� said Scott Banda, chair of the CFL's board of governors. 鈥淥ver the past seven-and-a-half years, he laid an extremely solid foundation for our game and league. It is on that bedrock that we now entrust Stewart with the task of taking the CFL to new heights.鈥�

TSN and RDS, its national French-language station, have held exclusive broadcast and digital media rights to the CFL for much of Johnston's tenure at the network.

"(Johnston's) in-depth familiarity with sports business in Canada and his lengthy history of success in the media industry and as an executive, made him the ideal candidate for commissioner," Banda added.

In a press release on April 2, Johnston said he hopes to grow the game of football and ensure the sustainability and success of the CFL "for generations to come."

"I鈥檝e loved working closely with this league, getting to know its stars and being a part of the most unforgettable celebration in Canadian sports 鈥� Grey Cup Week," Johnston said. "To think that I will present that iconic trophy to this year鈥檚 winners in Winnipeg this November is a dream come true.鈥�

After the league undergoes its transition later this month to a new commissioner, the CFL Draft will take place on April 29.

Training camps for the 2025 season open on May 11, before the preseason action kicks off eight days later. The league's regular-season campaign gets underway on June 5, when Saskatchewan plays host to Ottawa.