Looking back on his time as CEO of Regina-based Protein Industries Canada, Bill Greuel said he enjoyed every minute of it.
Wednesday was Greuel’s last day in the role which he was in since Protein Industries Canada was formed in October 2018.
“On day one, you open up a blank computer and you kind of built this whole thing from then on,” said Greuel. “We were just into it and really standing up and running and then COVID hit, so we had to pivot and do things a little bit differently but that opened up the opportunity for us to hire some people from across Canada because we really went remote.”
He said today, Protein Industries Canada has about 26 employees across the nation from Vancouver Island to Charlottetown, P.E.I.
While admitting it may sound cliche, Greuel said the best thing about his time at the organization is the people he worked with from program managers who work with companies, to those working in the finance and communication departments.
Under his leadership, Protein Industries Canada has “collaborated on 72 projects, and along with industry has invested more than $579 million into the Canadian ecosystem. Through those investments there have been 455 IP assets created, and more than $350 million in follow-on investment attracted to the ecosystem.” according to a news release.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered as CEO, Greuel said it’s not about him but rather what the organization is going to do in making the agriculture sector “an ingredient and plant-based food space” as well as making “ingredient manufacturing, food processing and bio-products a $25-billion-a-year industry for Canada.”
“That’s the legacy that I’m looking to leave,” he said.
His next chapter is at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture where he will take on the role of Deputy Minister.
“It’s been a great tenure and I’m looking forward to continuing to working with Protein Industries Canada in my new role and seeing where the organization goes from here.”
The search for his replacement has been ongoing since late-June, but Protein Industries Canada announced last Thursday Frank Hart was named interim CEO. Hart has been with Protein Industries Canada since 2018, serving as a Board Member. Since he has taken the position of interim CEO he “has resigned from the board of directors effective immediately. The board position will remain vacant until Protein Industries Canada’s AGM on Sept. 11, 2024. Frank has also ceased all external consulting work and will be full-time on contract for Protein Industries Canada.” said a news release on its website.
A CEO Search Committee is in place and an executive search organization is also assisting with the search.
