Michael Downey is leaving Labatt Breweries of Canada to take over the post of vice-president of marketing and sales for the Toronto Raptors basketball organization Jan. 8.

Downey joined Labatt as brand manager on Blue in 1990.

Since 1994, he has been director of new business development.

In that role, he was behind the development and launch of Labatt Copper and its ‘X vs. Y’ advertising campaign earlier this year.

Downey was group account director at Bozell Palmer Bonner on Molson’s Black Label business before joining Labatt.

Before that, he was director of market development for IMAX Theatres and director of marketing for Hershey Canada.

He began his career with Warner-Lambert Canada in 1980 and from 1986-88 was marketing director in Indonesia. PS