Kerry Hawkins (l), Diane Gray (c) and Ron Lemieux, Minister of Infrastructure & Transportation
On behalf of the Board of Directors of CentrePort Canada Inc, Mr. Kerry Hawkins, Chair of the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Diane Gray as Founding President and Chief Executive Officer effective November 9th, 2009.
Ms. Gray will be responsible for leading the future growth of Canada’s first inland port initiative connecting businesses to global trade markets and supporting Canada’s international trade gateway aspirations by providing direct, multi-modal access to major markets in North America, Asia and Europe.
“Ms. Gray’s senior-level experience and success in government, domestic and international relations, global trade, economic development and investment, and in developing strategic partnerships between private and public sectors are significant assets in the building of CentrePort, Canada’s Centre for Global Trade,” commented Kerry Hawkins, Chair of the Board.
Prior to joining CentrePort Canada, Ms. Gray was a senior official in the Manitoba provincial government, holding simultaneous positions as Deputy Minister of Federal-Provincial and International Relations and Trade; Deputy Minister of Finance; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Manitoba Trade and Investment Corporation. In these capacities, Ms. Gray’s responsibilities included providing support and advice to the Premier and respective Ministers on many important files including intergovernmental and international relations, taxation policy, and international business development.
Ms. Gray holds a Joint Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg, and an undergraduate degree in Political Studies from the University of Manitoba.
“It’s an honor for me to join CentrePort Canada Inc.,” stated Ms. Gray. “I’m excited about the opportunity to develop Canada’s inland port and grow Manitoba’s economy by taking better advantage of our strong transportation assets.”
“We are convinced that Ms. Gray is exactly the right leader for CentrePort,” said Don Streuber, Director and Chair of CenterPort’s Selection Committee.” Her extensive background and strong management experience will enable CentrePort to fulfill the mandate of building on Manitoba’s strategic location in the heart of North America and serve as an international transportation, trade, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and logistics centre.”
CentrePort Canada Inc. is a private sector-led, non-share capital corporation, created to develop and promote the inland port and build on Manitoba’s well-established infrastructure network of air, rail, trucking and sea routes.
Media Contact:
CentrePort Canada Inc.
128-2000 Wellington Avenue
Winnipeg Manitoba
R3H 1C2
204-992-2791
http://www.centreportcanada.ca/
