Chamber of Commerce names new CEO
Longtime member Martini hopes to ease period of transition
As the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce looks for a new permanent leader, the organization has called on a familiar face to sit at the helm in the meantime.
Silvia Martini, a longtime member of the chamber who previously served as director of the board from 2012 to 2017, was introduced Monday as interim chief executive officer following the departure of Darla Lindbjerg last month. Lindbjerg took over in 2017 from Kent Smith-windsor, who had served as the chamber’s CEO or executive director for 21 years.
Martini said it is a “privilege” to fill the role during the transition period, adding in a statement that her focus will be on “our strategic objectives, driven by our Chamber’s guiding principles and stakeholder changing needs.”
According to the chamber, Martini has already had meetings with staff and the board but won’t officially start in her role until May 19.
The chamber, in a statement, said Silvia offers “diverse desired strengths, extensive experience and knowledge of business, strategy, leadership, board governance and association management.”
The chamber represents around 1,500 members who account for nearly 90,000 employees.
In addition to her time with the chamber, Martini spent four years as vice-president of marketing with Tourism Saskatoon, board president and co-chair of the Word on the Street festival, vice-president of Interlink Research in Saskatoon, vice-chair or chair of Saskwater’s board of directors and principal of Martini Consulting.
The chamber acknowledged the challenges faced almost universally as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic, saying it “has significantly altered the environment in which businesses operate.” The organization, the chamber added, “is poised and eager to support our members towards a safe, economic recovery leading into what we believe to be a thriving future.”
Board chair Chris Sicotte said last month that he could not discuss the specifics of Lindbjerg’s departure. It was, Sicotte said, “a decision we’ve taken as a board and we’re looking to move forward.”
Lindbjerg, who held the position for three years, was the first woman to lead the Saskatoon chamber. She had previously served as the CEO of the Swift Current and District Chamber of Commerce and moved to Saskatoon to assume the new position.
She had also served as the executive director of the Swift Current United Way and owned a construction company.
— With files from Phil Tank, Saskatoon Starphoenix