- (Sports Network) - Longtime Toronto Blue Jays executive Paul Beeston has returned to his old title of CEO on an interim basis. The Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that Beeston, who was the first employee hired by the expansion club in 1976 and climbed the ladder to president and CEO by 1989, will return to the Toronto front office. He left the Blue Jays in 1997 to become COO for Major League Baseball, and left that position in 2002.

"No one, as we'd all agree, could be better qualified for this position," stated Tony Viner, president and CEO, Rogers Media. "Ted Rogers is thrilled with this news and many others, including Paul Godfrey, enthusiastically endorse this choice. I wish this arrangement could be permanent but I'll work with Paul Beeston to find in time a suitable replacement."

Beeston will fill in for Godfrey, the outgoing president and CEO, while the club searches for a full-time replacement.

"I have a great deal of respect for the Rogers organization and when I was asked to step in, I couldn't say no. I look forward to this assignment, even though it's short term," added Paul Beeston.

Hired by the Blue Jays in May 1976, Beeston became vice-president of business operations in 1977, executive vice-president of business in 1984 and president and COO in 1989. He was promoted to chief executive officer in 1991. Beeston returned to Toronto after leaving MLB in 2002, and works with several philanthropic endeavours while keeping an office at Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays, who finished in fourth place in the AL East last season with an 86-76 mark, are experiencing a return to the glory days of old of sorts, with Beeston back in the front office months after Cito Gaston returned to the bench for the club. The two were both part of the Blue Jays clubs that won consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.



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