New CWB chair, Bruce Johnson.
The board of directors of the Canadian Wheat Board have elected Bruce Johnson as its new chair. Mr. Johnson, a Regina business executive, has served as a CWB director since 2006.
“I look forward to the opportunity to serve farmers during this time of great change, as we transition to a competitive market environment,” Johnson said. “Our immediate focus as a board will be to provide stability in the marketing of western Canadian grain. As we move forward, our board will work closely with the CWB’s leadership team to offer farmers and international grain customers a superior package of contracts and services, building on this organization’s 76-year history, its expertise and its valued reputation as a trustworthy supplier of grain to the world marketplace.”
Johnson brings a wealth of experience to the board table from his varied and extensive role in the Prairie grain industry. He has served as executive vice-president of operations for the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool; CEO of Winnipeg-based Ag Pro Grain; CEO of FarmGro Organic Foods in Regina; and operations manager of Northern Sales in Winnipeg. He also has served on the boards of numerous grain handling and processing entities, including acting as chairman of the Western Grain Elevators Association. He is currently employed in the propane industry.
Mr. Johnson was born and raised in Winnipeg and attended the University of Manitoba. He now lives in Regina. He is married and has five children.
Upon Royal Assent of federal Bill C-18 on December 15, the composition of the CWB’s governing board of directors changed to consist of five directors appointed by the federal government. It replaces the former 15-member board that was first established in 1998. The five-member board also includes David Carefoot; Glen Findlay; Ken Motiuk; and CWB president and CEO Ian White, all of whom have served on the CWB board of directors for a number of years. More information about the board can be found at www.cwb.ca under “About Us”.
“On behalf of the new board of directors of the CWB, I would like to recognize and thank the former farmer-elected directors for their dedicated service to the farmers of Western Canada,” Johnson said. “We have all been committed to a single purpose, which is to assist farmers in the profitable marketing of their grain. That continues to be our steadfast goal.”
