TORONTO, ON, February 24, 2011 – The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Johnston as its new President. He will assume this position on March 7, 2011.
Stuart Johnston arrives at CIMA with a vast array of experience in association management, policy and government relations issues. As Vice President of Policy and Government Relations with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Stuart was responsible for liaising with members of the provincial government and Ontario business leaders as well as responding to policy priorities in finance and taxation, intellectual property rights, transportation and infrastructure, borders and trade, education, and energy issues. In 2008 Stuart was honored with the James Gordon Carnegie Memorial Award for his leadership and mentorship within the Ontario chamber network.
“We're thrilled and excited to have found an exceptional talent like Stuart to lead CIMA. His extraordinary work in the business community and all levels of government will serve CIMA well as we move into an exciting but challenging future,” stated Grant Dexter, Chair of CIMA. “Welcome on board Stuart!”
“I am very much looking forward to working with the great team of professionals at CIMA, in order to help promote, market and support the independent music industry in Canada,” added Stuart Johnston. “I am also grateful to CIMA and the board for giving me this tremendous opportunity to effectively represent and support the membership across this country.”
Prior to joining the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Stuart was the Executive Director and General Manager of the Brampton Board of Trade where he was also responsible for policy development. From 1997 to 1999, Stuart served as the Policy Analyst for the Brampton Board of Trade, and was responsible for drafting and advocating the business community’s position on a wide range of important issues affecting the city’s corporate sector.
A journalist by trade, his experience includes serving as News Editor for Plant, a national publication focusing on the manufacturing and processing sectors in Canada, and as a political journalist at the Brampton Guardian, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press and the Erin Advocate.
CIMA is the national trade association representing the English-language, Canadian-owned sector of the music industry, with a mandate to ensure the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world. CIMA’s membership consists of Canadian-owned companies and representatives of Canadian-owned companies involved in every aspect of the music, sound recording and music-related industries.
CIMA continues to take a leadership role in improving the economic viability and well-being of the independent music and sound recording sector in important areas such as cultural industry policies and programs; intellectual property and copyright law; tax laws and tariffs; international export and trade development programs; and professional development.
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For more information contact: Donna Murphy, CIMA
Tel: 416-485-3152 ext. 225
Email: donna@cimamusic.ca
