Bomber interim pres now full time

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This article was published 26/02/2010 (6010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will turn to one of their own to lead them into a new era.

The club announced today that interim CEO and president Jim Bell has been promoted to the position full-time.

In other Bombers’ news, the football club has traded import defensive end Gavin Walls to Montreal Alouettes in exchange for non-import defensive end Stan van Sichem. The Bombers also announced the club has released defensive back Lenny Walls, who led the East division in interceptions in 2009 with seven.

"To serve the Winnipeg Football Club as president is truly an honour, it’s a privilege," Bell said. "I grew up about 10 blocks from this place, growing up like many people in this community thinking they were going to be a Blue Bomber one day.

"I really look forward to what the future holds for this club."

Bell was named interim CEO on Dec. 17, 2009 following Lyle Bauer’s resignation. Bell will manage all of the Blue Bombers’ business operations with vice-president and general manager Joe Mack looking after the football operations.

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"When we started talking about hiring a president, we talked about the characteristics that we would like to see and honesty, integrity and intelligence were the three ingredients and those three characteristics describe Jim to the tee," said Gene Dunn, past chairman of the Bombers board.

Bell has been with the team for eight years, coming on as director of finance in 2002. In 2006 he was promoted to VP of finance and administration and played a key role in Bauer’s regime as the club worked to establish solid financial footing.

Bell was involved in all areas of the club’s finances as well as special projects such as the 2006 Grey Cup. He is a Winnipeg native who graduated from the University of Manitoba with a major in commerce.

Following the press conference to announce Bell as president, Bombers coach Paul LaPolice spoke briefly regarding the trade of the veteran and former CFL all-star Walls for the unproven van Sichem. He said the move was related to the team’s salary cap as well as need to upgrade Canadian talent.

"He’s a good young Canadian that we think can help us on special teams and can be somebody who can come off the edge or play linebacker for us," LaPolice.

Van Sichem is a 2008 graduate of the University of Regina Rams program and the school’s all-time leader in sacks. A Montreal fourth-round pick in the 2009 Canadian draft, he began last season on the Alouettes practice roster but suffered a knee injury midway through the season that kept him out of action.

LaPolice said van Sichem’s surgery was last November and the player would be ready for training camp.

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