Head of BC Place Stadium and Vancouver Convention Centre retires after 13 years | Daily Hive

Head of BC Place Stadium and Vancouver Convention Centre retires after 12 years

Ken Cretney (left) and Rehana Din (right). (PavCo)

There is a major leadership change coming to the provincial Crown corporation that oversees and operates some of British Columbia’s largest economic and tourism drivers, as well as major event and entertainment venues — BC Place Stadium and the Vancouver Convention Centre.

And this transition is coming just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when BC Place Stadium will host seven matches.

PavCo announced today its board of directors has named Rehana Din as its next president and CEO. She will assume the role on May 9, 2026, following the retirement of Ken Cretney after 18 years with the organization, including 12 years as its head.

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Coming from a hotel operations background, Cretney first joined PavCo as the general manager of the convention centre from 2008 to 2013. He became PavCo’s chief operating officer in 2013 and then the president and CEO of the organization in 2014.

“Ken has overseen some of the most important conventions, sports, music and cultural events in our province’s history, and we wish him the very best in his much-deserved retirement,” said Anne Kang, B.C. minister of tourism, arts, culture, and sport, in a statement.

He has also overseen much of both facilities’ modern history following their dramatic overhauls, including the completion of the convention centre’s West Building expansion in 2009 ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the full renovation of the stadium in 2011, which included the installation of the retractable roof. His tenure also saw the redevelopment of the stadium’s west parking lot into mixed-use residential and commercial towers and Parq Vancouver casino hotel resort.

“My decision to retire came as the result of tremendous thought and reflection, but the timing is right for both myself and for PavCo. I have spent five decades in the tourism and hospitality industry, including 18 years at PavCo and 12 years as president and CEO. This is a remarkable organization, full of incredibly talented and passionate people, and I know that Rehana Din is the right person to lead PavCo into the next chapter of its journey,” said Cretney.

Din brings more than 20 years of experience across the public and private sectors, including previous leadership at Gateway Casinos & Entertainment. She is also active in the tourism sector, currently serving as chair of Destination Vancouver’s board, and was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her community contributions.

Her appointment signals a continuation of internal leadership at PavCo, where Din has spent 13 years in senior roles. Most recently serving as PavCo’s chief operating officer, she previously held the organization’s positions as chief financial officer and corporate secretary.

“I want to sincerely thank Ken Cretney, whose outstanding leadership and dedication have shaped PavCo and the broader tourism and hospitality industry in British Columbia. It is a tremendous privilege to be named President and CEO of PavCo,” said Din.

“I am proud to be a leader in an organization where success is defined not only by financial performance, but also by the shared purpose and true impact we have on our industry, community and our whole province.”

Industry and sports hosting leaders reacted to the leadership transition, including Peter Montopoli, the chief tournament officer for Canada in the FIFA World Cup.

“Cretney has been a trusted partner, and I want to thank him for his leadership and support to date. Having worked closely with Rehana over the past few years, I have great confidence in her as she assumes the role of President and CEO of PavCo. Rehana has been part of Canada’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey from day one. She truly understands the complexity and scale of hosting global mega events,” said Montopoli.

Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver, added, “PavCo is saying farewell to a true legend in Ken Cretney, but is welcoming an exceptional leader in Rehana Din… She is a remarkable ambassador for our city and province and understands how to bring industry, government and community partners together to achieve more than any one organization could on its own.”

Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, said Cretney has “left an indelible mark on Vancouver’s economy” by “strengthening PavCo’s role as a powerful driver of business tourism, major events, and long-term investment in our region.”

“PavCo’s responsibility goes far beyond filling venues for a few days; they play a key role in helping position Vancouver as a city where global investors and organizations want to do business. As PavCo enters its next chapter, we look forward to working closely with Rehana Din to build on that momentum,” continued Anderson.

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