ANNOUNCEMENT
DATE: 2024-01-18
TO: The Membership of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
FROM: Geoff Hatton, Chair of the Board, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
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As the Chair of the Board of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, I wish to advise you that after a remarkable and impactful tenure, our President & CEO, Debbi M Nicholson, has formally announced that she will retire from the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, effective June 30th, 2024.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, our membership, community stakeholders, and our staff, we wish to acknowledge Debbi and the outstanding leadership she has demonstrated over her forty-five-year tenure with the Sudbury Chamber. Debbi’s achievements both in her role as the President & CEO of the chamber and as a valued community leader are remarkable. When our delegates visit the provincial and federal AGMs, Debbi’s reputation precedes her, and that recognition comes from decades of earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues. As the longest-serving chamber executive in Canada, Debbi has been the face of business for Sudbury. Many of the accomplishments in our community such as the four-laning of Highway 69 can be directly correlated to her advocacy and leadership. Sudbury is a better City for having had Debbi Nicholson at the helm for the past 45 years and our community will be forever grateful for her.
Debbi has expressed that she has thoroughly enjoyed and is grateful to have served the Greater Sudbury business community for so many decades. She felt that the time is right for her to step aside and for new leadership to guide our chamber as it works to undertake a new strategic plan and other new initiatives later this year.
The chamber’s board of directors has struck an expert Search Committee to begin the task of finding a qualified replacement. As you can expect, the Search Committee will be following a very thorough and strategic succession plan in order to secure the best possible candidate to work with our many valued members, stakeholders, governments, media, and our dedicated professional staff.
During the transition period, Debbi has agreed to offer her services in any way that the Board may deem helpful until such time as the new President & CEO is in a position to lead.
We would ask that during the time of transition you remain patient and focused as the Board undertakes its work in achieving its mandate and objectives in this regard. We would also ask for your cooperation in assisting the Search Committee where possible, in gathering information and views that will put us in the best possible position to secure the right individual for the role. Should you believe you meet the qualifications and are interested in applying for the position, the Search Committee would be pleased to receive your application.
I know you want to join me in congratulating Debbi on her valued and exceptional career with the chamber, and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.
Geoff Hatton
CHAIR OF THE BOARD