OPMA president announces plans to retire
OPMA president announces plans to retire
Ian MacKenzie, president of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association, has announced that he plans to retire at the end of this year.
MacKenzie has been with the OPMA since 1994, leaving briefly in 1998 to become general manager of the Ontario Apple Marketing Commission, but returning to OPMA in 2002.
“It’s been both a pleasure and an honor to work with so many great individuals in this industry,” MacKenzie said in a press release.
Ian MacKenzie “Each board I’ve served has brought something new and innovative to the table that has enabled OPMA to grow from 60 members in 1994 to over 275 today and develop into an advocate for the industry here in Ontario.”
“Ian has provided the association with strong leadership for almost 20 years,” Steve Bamford, chairman of the OPMA, added in the press release. “It will be a challenge to find a suitable replacement, but I am confident that the board of directors will be able to find such an individual over the next few months. A selection committee has been formed and has begun the process of recruiting. They look forward to interviewing a strong slate of candidates who will compete for the position."
OPMA said that candidates should have a great deal of experience in the produce industry with expertise about key industry issues and opportunities related to both regulations and marketing. The successful candidate will have to possess a strong business acumen and the ability to engage members, and the individual should also be skilled at nurturing relationships with government, regulatory bodies, media and partner associations nationally and internationally.
“Replacing Ian will be a difficult task as the role requires a unique mix of skill sets and careful interaction with many segments of the industry”, Bamford added in the press release.
Anyone wishing to submit his or her name for consideration should do so before March 1. Resumes should be sent to [email protected].