A local Ottawa business leader will head the ByWard Market District Authority as it continues its search for a permanent replacement.
The board of directors at the BMDA confirmed Michelle Groulx is the organization’s new interim chief executive officer, effective Sept. 14.
“Michelle brings extensive leadership experience and a strong understanding of Ottawa’s business and economic development landscape,” the board said in an email.
“She will lead the organization during this transition while the board continues its search for a permanent CEO.”
Groulx is a mainstay in Ottawa’s business community, having worked as an advocate for local businesses in some capacity for the last two decades. Her most recent post included working as executive director and the chief advocate of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas.
She also put her name forward as a city council candidate for Kitchissippi Ward in this year’s election before withdrawing her name in August. She cited “unforeseen circumstances” when making her withdrawal announcement.
The BMDA is a municipal services corporation established by the City of Ottawa and is responsible for operations at the ByWard and Parkdale markets, and Groulx is the latest in a series of CEOs announced by the group this year.
She replaces Mayan Gilly, the organization’s people and executive operations manager, who temporarily took over the position in late August. Gilly stepped in after the former executive director, Victoria Williston, was let go after only seven months in the role. At the time, the board cited the termination as an “internal and private matter” and would not comment further.
Olivia Gninhi, the BMDA’s communications officer, said the board was still on the hunt for a permanent replacement.
“There’s no specific timeline to share for the moment, as the board is still in the recruitment process,” she said.
Pat Nicastro, owner of La Bottega Nicastro, said vendors were told by the BMDA that businesses will have a greater role in shaping decisions about the market moving forward.
“We’ve been told that businesses are going to be included much more in the consultation and decision-making,” Nicastro said.
The BMDA has come under fire in recent months as vendors have reported feeling they don’t have enough control over their businesses and that they’re not part of the conversations and decisions affecting them.
Nicastro said he was hopeful that would change.
“They’ve hired someone new and it looks like they’ve listened and I think they’re going to have business interests at heart and include them more in decision making, which is needed.”
Nicastro says he does not yet know what is on the agenda for next year’s 200 celebration of the ByWard Market, but added that businesses have recently been told they will be advised, consulted and included in that process too.
“I think it is a bit early, but I think the goal now is to include businesses. That’s what I’ve been told,” he said.
— With files from Abyssinia Abebe
