Forge Promotes Nicole Demers To VP Of Business Operations

The Forge FC staff restructuring saw its second internal promotion of the week, with Nicole Demers being named as club’s Vice President of Business Operations.

Demers has been a long-term Hamilton Sports Group employee, initially joining an account services role in 2008 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. She helped manage the teams transition to Tim Hortons Field and took a lead role in ticketing for the CFL’s 108th Grey Cup.

It was last year when her duties shifted towards the soccer-side of Hamilton Sports Group, with Demers stepping into an Associate VP of Business Operations role in 2022. Her influence has helped the club secure double-digit growth in season ticket memberships and big gains in community outreach.

“Nicole is the clear choice to lead Forge FC’s Business Operations team forward in our perpetual pursuit of excellence off the pitch that mirrors our success on the pitch through four seasons” said Hamilton Sports Group President Matt Afinec.

“She has impressed from the time she started in ticket sales sixteen years ago and has proven herself as a results-oriented, innovative and empowering leader in every role she has held within our organization. Nicole’s dedication to Forge FC’s supporters, fans, corporate and community partners, is unmatched and we are supremely confident she will thrive in this newly created and important role within our organization.”

Demers is the third Forge staffer to earn a new title in the last week, with the three-time CPL champions having promoted Jelani Smith to the club’s VP of Soccer Operations while adding Sporting Director to Bobby Smyrniotis’ duties.

“I am excited and honoured to take on this new role with Forge FC and thank Hamilton Sports Group’s ownership and executive leadership for the opportunity,” said Demers of the promotion. “I look forward to building on the tremendous success of the club, both on and off the pitch, and further contributing to the growth of our brand in the Hamilton and surrounding communities. I remain fully committed to providing Forge fans and partners with the best live soccer experience around.”

Forge FC is three matches deep into the club’s fifth season, remaining undefeated. The squad retained nearly all of their title-winning roster from last year, and will be heavy league favourites expected to also secure a path to Concacaf Champions League action next year, too.

Forge will be back in action this Friday for the first 905 Derby of the year, away to York United.