MEDIA RELEASE: RMED announces organization’s first CEO

April 16, 2021: The Board of Directors of the Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation (RMED) is pleased to announce the hiring of Margot Cathcart as the organization’s first CEO. (See below for bio.)

“Following an extensive search process, we believe that Margot possesses the experience and skill set to build this organization into a key asset for economic development in rural Manitoba,” said RMED Board co-chair Chuck Davidson.

RMED was established by the Province of Manitoba as a new rural economic development and regional partnership organization to meet the needs of municipalities and reflects the objectives of the Province of Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan.

“Margot will be responsible for advancing the provincial government’s rural economic mandate and to operationalize the core functions and achieve the overall objectives of RMED,” added RMED Board co-chair Joe Masi.

RMED’s mandate is to identify priority areas, including the development of targeted sector strategies, to foster competitiveness, facilitate growth, identify investment opportunities, and address economic barriers in the province.

“We’d like to congratulate Margot Cathcart in being named the first CEO of the Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation and thank Co-Chairs Chuck Davidson and Joe Masi and the Board of Directors for their hard work,” said Minister of Economic Development and Jobs Ralph Eichler. “We are excited to launch Manitoba’s new rural economic development office in Brandon, as this hub will play an important role in helping southern Manitoba as we move forward through the pandemic and continue our work to safely reopen businesses and restart our economy.”

“I look forward to the exciting responsibility of building an organization from the ground floor, expanding services and value through stakeholder community relations, be the “Rural Connector” for partners and government as well as the voice for rural economic development issues,” said Cathcart.

Cathcart will officially start in the role on May 3, 2021.

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Margot Cathcart, Chief Executive Officer
Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation (RMED)

Margot Cathcart grew up in rural Manitoba, graduated from Brandon University and after living in Japan and in Winnipeg, returned to Brandon with her husband to raise their two sons.  Describing herself as a “builder”, she has been involved from the ground up in product, business, and industry development.

Her experience spans television, new media, information management and technology, and financial services.  Over the course of her career, she has held numerous private sector management roles.

Most recently she has held senior management positions with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development developing provincial wide economic development programming and re-engineering operations to enhance knowledge management and operational efficiencies.

For more information contact:

RMED CEO: Margot Cathcart: 204-794-8455

RMED Co-Chair: Chuck Davidson 204-782-1679        RMED Co-Chair: Joe Masi 204-856-3965