OTTAWA, Canada – The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) help Canadian businesses reach, and succeed in, highly competitive markets. The services they provide will be important to support a strong, sustainable, inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and create long-term growth.
To ensure BDC and CCC possess the effective leadership they need to deliver on their mandates, Mary Ng, minister of international trade, export promotion, small business and economic development, on Friday announced the reappointments of Mike Pedersen as chair of the board of directors of BDC, and Douglas Harrison as chair of the board of directors of CCC. The minister also announced the appointment of Guy Desrochers to CCC’s board.
“Canada’s economic recovery and longer-term prosperity rely on our businesses having the support they need to bring their made-in-Canada products and services to new markets. Mike Pedersen and Douglas Harrison have both ably served Canadian businesses as chairs of BDC and CCC, respectively, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic. These reappointments and the new appointment of Guy Desrochers will support Canada’s great firms with the tools they need to compete. By working together, we will continue to help our businesses succeed, at home and abroad,” minister Ng.
BDC supports small and medium-sized Canadian enterprises seeking to grow their businesses, and has been crucial to supporting entrepreneurs and business owners during the pandemic. Mike Pedersen has been chair of the BDC board since 2018 and has played a crucial leadership role in supporting Canada’s pandemic response for entrepreneurs. Pedersen has three decades of experience in the banking industry and most recently held the role of president and CEO of TD Bank Group’s US retail and commercial banking business. His reappointment will ensure ongoing stability for entrepreneurs and support for BDC as it implements a renewed, ambitious vision.
CCC supports the growth of international trade by facilitating Canadian exporters’ sales of goods and services to foreign governments. Douglas Harrison has served as chair of the board of directors of CCC since 2018, and his leadership has been pivotal to the organization including for the procurement of products and services for Canada’s international response to COVID-19. During his long career, Harrison has held a number of senior leadership roles, most recently at VersaCold Logistics Services.
Guy Desrochers will add to the strength of CCC’s board, bringing a wealth of experience as a senior executive with some of Canada’s largest companies, including Quebecor Media, Molson Coors Beverage Company, and Bombardier.
These appointments were made after an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process developed to attract high-quality candidates.
