WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — Cereals Canada’s has named two new leaders to the organization. Cereals Canada recently was formed through a merger with the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi).

Dean Dias will lead Cereals Canada as chief executive officer (CEO) with Cam Dahl taking over as chief strategy officer, effective Aug. 17.

“We are pleased to announce Dean Dias as CEO of Cereals Canada,” said Todd Hames, chair of the board of Cereals Canada. “As CEO, Dean will bring a wealth of experience and energy to our new organization. His passion for agriculture, combined with his leadership and strategic vision will be a driving force behind the success of our newly merged organization.”

Dias has served Cigi in various roles over the past decade, most recently as director of value chain relations and interim CEO.

“There is no better industry to serve than Canadian agriculture,” Dias said. “I am humbled by the trust and responsibility the board has placed in me, and I look forward to working alongside Cam and our dedicated staff as we seek to cement Canada’s reputation as a world leader in cereals.”

As chief strategy officer, Dahl will be focused on driving policy, government relations, and market access.

“Dahl played an instrumental role in the creation of Cereals Canada and is a highly respected leader in the Canadian agriculture industry,” Dias said. “His support for the newly merged organization in this role will be pivotal to our continued development and success.”

Currently, Cereals Canada is working to develop a new strategic plan and completing a branding review, engaging with members, staff, and the industry at large. Key components of this vision will be centered around communications, policy, market development and support, research and innovation.

“At the end of the day, this new organization is all about returning value back to our members,” Hames said. “With this leadership team in place, we are confident that Cereals Canada can hit the ground running as we seek to grow our industry and maximize Canada’s global presence.”

Cereals Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that brings a broad and diverse collaboration of partners from all sectors of the cereals value chain. It also provides pre-market and in-market technical support for the Canadian grain sector through its technical division Cigi.