Chris Armstrong (BSM '05)

Christopher Armstrong (BSM ’05) has quickly climbed his way up the sport management leaderboard.

Since graduating in 2005, Armstrong has been involved in every aspect of Canadian golf. Shortly after studying commerce at McGill University and sport management at Brock University, Armstrong joined IMG — one of the world’s leading sports marketing and management companies. As vice-president for IMG Golf, he assisted in the redevelopment of its Canadian athlete representation business and managed the day-to-day marketing business for many of the country’s most prominent golfers, including Stephen Ames, Anthony Kim and Morgan Pressel. He has recently taken on the leadership position of vice-president and director of Wasserman Media Group Canadian Practice, continuing his career in the sport marketing and management field as he builds a multi-sports practice for Wasserman in Canada.

In 2009, Armstrong was the youngest person on the National Post‘s list of Canada’s top 25 most influential people in Canadian golf. In 2010, Armstrong made the Globe and Mail’s Sports Power 50 list. And most recently, Armstrong was honoured as Brock University’s 2010 Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

While studying at Brock, Armstrong was as a teaching assistant in the Sport and Law course and worked at the Centre for Sport and Law in St. Catharines, preparing factual arguments in Olympic team selection arbitration cases, as well as a number of independent studies in collective bargaining, negotiation and intellectual property rights. Working collaboratively with Hilary Findlay, Armstrong worked on several academic articles that remain under review for publication.

Armstrong credits Brock’s entire sport management faculty in influencing him “in one way or another,” but especially professors Findlay and Craig Hyatt. “They both took a particular interest in my career pursuits,” he said. “And they’ve continued to be great supporters.”

Armstrong enjoys the path his career has taken him, and especially appreciates the variety of his day-to-day experiences and the personal relationships he’s built along the way.  But the most difficult challenge, he said is a busy travel schedule that sometimes makes it difficult to maintain a proper balance in life.

In addition to his demanding leadership role with Wasserman Media Group, Armstrong sits on the board of the Stephen Ames Foundation — an organization benefiting children in both Trinidad and Tobago and Canada — and tries to stay involved with local community initiatives. Armstrong frequently visits Brock to speak with students in sport management classes. And to top it off, he’s getting married this September.

A few questions with Chris:

Why did you choose Brock University for your post-secondary education?
After studying commerce at McGill and being around the hockey program there, it became clear to me that I wanted to continue a career in sport. I believed Brock to be the best place to get that education.

What was your most memorable experience at Brock University?
I was chosen to host Richard Pound when he came to give a lecture at the University.  The opportunity to spend the day with such an accomplished person, not only in Canadian but international sport, was a great opportunity that I will never forget.

Who do you admire?
Anyone who has gone after his or her dreams.

Where did you go on your last vacation?
Maui, Hawaii.

What was the last good movie you saw?
The Lincoln Lawyer.

What was the last good book you read?
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.

Do you have any advice for fellow Brock alumni?
Once you decide you know what you want to do and what makes you happy, pursue it, don’t look back, and be good to people along the way.