News Summary

Patrick Searle has been appointed as the new CEO of the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI), succeeding Benjamin Bergen who will move to lead the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) in January. Searle, who has been part of CCI since 2017, is set to lead the organization through an anticipated challenging year for Canadian tech, driven by aggressive US protectionism. Searle aims to shape Canada’s sovereign strategy by equipping CCI’s 175 member companies to address these challenges effectively. Under his leadership, CCI plans to focus on advocating for access to capital, expanding its support programs, and preparing its members for future economic threats, including a potential renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Jim Balsillie, CCI co-chair, praised Searle for his communication skills and strategic vision, essential for navigating the evolving tech landscape in Canada.