ERWAN BOUCHAUD APPOINTED AS NEW CEO OF ENTREPRISES RIEL
Winnipeg, January 17, 2024
Entreprises Riel and the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM) are proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Erwan Bouchaud as the new Chief Executive Officer of Entreprises Riel, effective January 22, 2024. This appointment marks Mr. Bouchaud’s departure from his position as Director of Municipal Strategic Development at CDEM, opening a new chapter in the collaboration between the two organizations.
“As a community economic development agency, Entreprises Riel plays a key role in the economic and tourism development of Manitoba’s Francophone community. Mr. Bouchaud has an impressive track record, demonstrating extensive expertise in these areas. Entreprises Riel and the CDEM will continue to collaborate closely towards a promising economic and tourism future for the Riel District and bilingual municipalities,” said Mr. Eric Robert, Chair of the Board of Entreprises Riel.
A Remarkable Career Journey
Mr. Erwan Bouchaud is recognized within the Manitoba Francophone community for his dedication to promoting Francophone culture in the context of economic, community, and tourism development. In 2010, he initially joined the CDEM as a bilingual Project Manager, and later served as the Communications Manager at Théâtre Cercle Molière from 2016 to 2018. Subsequently, he progressed at CDEM, serving as the Director of Community Economic Development (CED) and Tourism from 2018 to 2022, and finally as the Director of Municipal Strategic Development in 2023.
Under his leadership, the CED team supported over 25 community projects annually, including notable achievements such as a digital infrastructure development plan in eleven of the fifteen bilingual municipalities, an early childhood development strategy in collaboration with the Fédération des parents de la francophonie manitobaine (FPFM) and the École technique et professionnelle (ÉTP) de l’Université de Saint-Boniface, resulting in the creation of nearly 350 new French-language daycare spots. Additionally, initiatives like creating a research and funding service called Cell-Fi garnered substantial investments in community projects for AMBM’s member municipalities. Mr. Bouchaud also sits on the steering committee of the Manitoba Francophone Tourism Strategy and has contributed to the creation of tourism initiatives such as Jeudis de la francophonie and Fort Ellice. The appointment as the CEO of Entreprises Riel is a natural progression in Mr. Bouchaud’s professional journey.
“My successive experiences at CDEM under the leadership of Mr. Louis Allain and Mrs. Madeleine Arbez have greatly contributed to my professional growth, and I am excited about leveraging that experience at Entreprises Riel. There is tremendous economic and tourist potential in the Riel District, and I look forward to contributing to it with the support of partners and the AMBM Group. I still have much to learn, and I am eager to further engage with Normand Gousseau on his vision and accomplishments that have marked the past two decades. The opportunity to lead such an influential organization is a true privilege that will allow me to significantly contribute to the well-being and development of the Riel District. I thank the members of the Entreprises Riel board of directors for their trust. I also express gratitude to the entire CDEM team for a decade of wonderful collaboration,” declares Erwan Bouchaud.
The hiring of Mr. Erwan Bouchaud is the result of a rigorous selection process conducted by Entreprises Riel’s recruitment committee. The board of directors of Entreprises Riel also takes this opportunity to acknowledge the exceptional contribution of the current CEO, Mr. Normand Gousseau, and express immense gratitude for his dedication to the organization and the Francophone community over the past twenty years as he embarks on retirement. Mr. Gousseau will step down from his role at the end of February 2024.