The Score has tapped Tom Hearne as its new chief financial officer, taking over from Patrick Michaud, who left the company in January to start a financial consulting practice.

Hearne was CFO at Toronto’s Redline Communications and worked at companies including Open Text and Algorithmics Software. He will report to CEO John Levy.

Hearne’s ‘extensive industry experience will be instrumental in helping us execute on our growth strategy and we welcome him to The Score during this very exciting time at the company,’ commented Levy in a release.

‘The Score is a trusted source for sports fans and it is my mandate to jump in and join the rest of the management team in executing on and building upon the company’s current and future growth plans’ adds Hearne.

The news follows the launch of the sportscaster’s street-front high-definition studio this week — part of a recent $15-million makeover as the cabler looks to compete with rivals including TSN and Rogers Sportsnet.

The studio in downtown Toronto features a 9 x 14-foot outdoor screen and up-to-the-minute ticker, and will have an interactive component to allow fans to enter the studio and participate in The Score’s various shows — à la MuchMusic. The cabler is now also broadcasting 90% of its programming, including news program Score Tonight, in high definition.