Flames CEO John Bean to step down; Robert Hayes named successor

Calgary Flames president and CEO John Bean will shift out of his current roles and into an advisory position as of June 3, the club announced Monday afternoon.

Bean has spent the last 14 years with the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (the Flames’ parent company) and replaced Ken King as president and CEO shortly before his death in 2020.

Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation today announced changes to senior executive leadership with the naming of Robert Hayes as President and CEO and Lorenzo DeCicco as Chief Operating Officer.

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) May 13, 2024

Citing an internal memo sent out by Bean, The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie first reported the news of the Flames’ front office shake-up earlier on Monday.

McKenzie also indicated that Robert Hayes and Lorenzo DeCicco will join CSEC as CEO and COO, respectively, moves that the Flames subsequently confirmed in their media release. Hayes will also serve as team president.

Bean played a central role in securing a deal with the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta to build a new arena for the Flames to replace the aging Scotiabank Saddledome. The new rink is expected to be ready in time for the start of the 2027-28 season.

“Outgoing CSEC President and CEO John Bean decided to step down after 14 ½ years with the organization,” the Flames’ release read. “Bean made CSEC Ownership aware of his decision last year and has worked through a process to fill the roles of President and CEO along with the new Chief Operating Officer position.

“Both Hayes and DeCicco will begin their new roles with CSEC on June 3, 2024. As part of the transition, John Bean will stay on in a senior advisory role with respect to the design and construction of the new Event Centre.”

Hayes joins the Flames from a long career in the financial sector, most recently serving as the managing director of the Enterprise Strategic Client Group at the Royal Bank of Canada.

DeCicco has served on multiple boards in Calgary and played a pivotal role in launching the Cavalry FC organization, which competes in the Canadian Premier League. He also spent nearly two decades at Telus, including as a senior executive vice-president.

The Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation oversees the NHL’s Flames, the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, and the NLL’s Calgary Roughnecks. The Stampeders operate out of McMahon Stadium, while the other four teams play out of the Saddledome.