Canadian Diabetes Association announces the appointment of new President and CEO

TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - The Board of Directors of the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Rick Blickstead as President and CEO, effective October 1, 2013.

Mr. Blickstead will be responsible for overseeing the CDA's mission to lead the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure.

Mr. Blickstead joins the CDA after almost 11 years as CEO of the Wellesley Institute, a Toronto-based population health research and policy institute. He has experience working with multiple stakeholders in this role and previously in executive leadership roles with Peoples Jewellers, Wal-Mart, Dylex, Holt Renfrew and RONA. He has a diverse background in strategic leadership, organizational and board governance, and operational excellence. Mr. Blickstead is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, a Fellow of the Social Innovation Generation at MaRS and has been the operational team leader for Seeing is Believing, an initiative of the Prince's Trust (UK) and Prince's Charities Canada. He has an MBA from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto and has completed the non-profit leadership certificate joint program at the Harvard Business School and Kennedy School of Government. He is also a member of several boards, including the Toronto Central LHIN, Young Presidents/World Presidents Organization, and Toronto Region Board of Trade's Policy and Advocacy Committee.

"Rick is an accomplished leader and strategic health care thinker who is passionate about our mission and commitment to help people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure," says Ms. Suzanne Deuel, Interim Chair of the Canadian Diabetes Association Board of Directors. "He brings a wealth of knowledge, education and experience to our organization and the people we serve."

"I see this as an exciting and pivotal time to join the Canadian Diabetes Association," says Mr. Blickstead. "Today, one in four Canadians is living with diabetes or prediabetes and that number is projected to rise to an alarming one in three by 2020. Together, with the commitment of dedicated staff and volunteers and through the unwavering support of our funding and program partners, we will work hard and work quickly to improve the lives of the people we serve and are about to serve. This is the commitment we make to all people in Canada affected by diabetes today and the growing population of tomorrow."

The Board of Directors would like to sincerely thank Mr. Doug Macnamara for his considerable contributions as Interim President and CEO of the CDA from February 2013 to October 2013. In that role he provided strong team leadership and management expertise to ensure the CDA maintained momentum while the search for a permanent leader was underway.  Mr. Macnamara invested a tremendous amount of time and energy during this period and his efforts have made a lasting and positive contribution.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

SOURCE: Canadian Diabetes Association

Katie Ostler
Communications Manager
Canadian Diabetes Association
P: 416-408-7088
C: 416-316-5334
E: [email protected]