Tim Wiens, Chair of Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Chad Fleck has been named President & CEO.
Over the last 17 years, STEP has continued to innovate and offer valuable programs and services to Saskatchewan exporters. The membership continues to grow, along with the solid reputation and brand of STEP. Under the new leadership, STEP is embarking upon an exciting new phase of growth and development.
“Chad’s commitment, passion, and expertise for Saskatchewan business made him our candidate of choice for the President & CEO position,” said Mr. Wiens. “He brings a proven record of private sector knowledge, operational leadership, strategy development, and international business experience and relationship management to the position. Our Board is confident that his entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his extensive knowledge of international trade and business, will enhance trade and economic growth for our membership and for the province.”
Born and raised in the province, Chad has deep ties to Saskatchewan where he grew up on a family farm. He first held employment in the province in the oil and gas industry before pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Saskatchewan, Edwards School of Business. He holds an M.B.A. in Marketing, Organizational Strategy and International Business from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Schulich School of Business at York University as well as an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from MIT Sloan School of Management. Chad’s key business strengths align strongly to Saskatchewan’s key economic sectors with past employment in the oil, gas, energy, coal and agriculture sectors.
Chad joins STEP from his most recent position as Commercial Counsellor & Senior Trade Commissioner with the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo where he worked extensively with and was a champion of the private sector. Previous positions include Chief of Staff, G8/G20 Summits Management Office (SMO); Representative, Central America and the Caribbean (CAC); International Business Development Group, Export Development Canada (EDC) and Deputy Director (Japan, Korea, Taiwan), North Asia Commercial Relations, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Chad is thrilled to return to the province, lead the STEP team, and to work with STEP members. He will join the organization on August 1, 2014 based out of the Regina STEP office.
Minister Responsible for Trade, the Honourable Jeremy Harrison, noted that Chad has extensive knowledge in international trade, experience with the private sector, and deep Saskatchewan roots. “Saskatchewan’s presence on the international stage continues to grow,” Harrison said. “Chad’s diverse global experience will help STEP fulfil the province’s aggressive export targets as identified in Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan.”
STEP is a non-profit, membership driven, government/industry partnership, designed to promote the growth of Saskatchewan’s export industry. For more information, visit www.sasktrade.sk.ca