GTMA Announces the Appointment of a New CEO and COO

The Board of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance today announced a strengthening of the leadership of the organization. 

Board Chair, Lou Milrad has been appointed as the new CEO for the organization. Mr. Milrad will continue to serve as Chair of the Board and assume the additional responsibilities of CEO effective February 1, 2008. John Jung will move into the role of President and Chief Operating Officer effective immediately.  more...

GTMA Partnership Supports Cognizant’s GTA Expansion

A two-year-long partnership between Cognizant Technology Solutions and the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA) is paying off for the high tech company.

“Despite its relatively small size, the GTMA brings a lot of value to the table for foreign investors,” said William Mougayar, Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications for Cognizant in Canada. “It was a key factor in our choice to locate here, and remains an important asset to us as we grow.”  more…

On December 4th 150 guests registered for the GTMA launch of the International Leaders Breakfast Club with inaugural speaker Nicholas Armour, Director, U.K. Trade & Investment, Canada.  Mr. Armour’s presentation – “What can the GTA learn from the U.K.’s success in attracting FDI-Best Practices, incentives and benchmarking trends” provided guests with some interesting insights into the U.K. economy, in particular, three key selling points which make up the U.K.’s investment message and that have been effective in attracting and retaining investment in the U.K., including

• An open regulatory framework;
• The UK’s World Class Creativity and Innovation, with foreign businesses owning 37% of patents in the UK, compared to 12% in the U.S. and 4% in Japan; and
• The UK has outstanding support networks and regional strengths and collaboration that make up the competitive proposition for the U.K., Nicholas underscored that, “we are playing here for global not regional positioning.”

In noting that there are lessons to be learned from the U.K. experience, Mr. Amour did acknowledge that the U.K. has also learned from Canada, whose trade and investment promotion initiatives were rated the best in the world in a recent survey. To download a copy of Mr. Armour’s full speech, click on UK INVESTMENT AND TRADE.

Commenting on the success of the event, John Jung, Interim President & CEO, stated, “The GTMA has long valued its relationship with our foreign consulate corp, and the International Leaders Breakfast Club is an opportunity for us to learn and exchange ideas on ‘best of class’ and practices in area of international investment and trade.”

To learn about the ILBC or how to take advantage of the International Leaders Breakfast Club Membership click on ILBC.  

PLEASE JOIN US for the next presentation in the International Leaders Breakfast Club series on Tuesday, January 8th . See Item 2 of this Newsletter.

We would like to recognize and thank our sponsors for their support and generous contribution:

Join the GTMA on its Executive Business and Investment Attraction Mission to Asia (March 28- April 10, 2008) focusing on Seoul – Tokyo/Osaka – Taipei

EARLY BIRD RATE $6,950 ONLY UNTIL DECEMBER 31

The purpose of this initiative to Asia is to “promote the GTA as a preferred location to invest in and to secure new investment by Asian companies, institutions and talent to the GTA”. By joining this mission you will be accelerating your business opportunities in Asia and attracting investment to the GTA.

Join us for the entire trip or select the module that you wish to participate in.

• Module A:  March 28- April 2 (South Korea)
• Module B:  April 2-April 6 (Japan)
• Module C:  April 6- April 10 (Taiwan)

Benefit from the contacts and experience that GTMA staff and its partners have made in its previous visits to Asia. Let the GTMA and its partners open doors for you while actively assisting the GTMA to attract investment to the GTA, which will benefit all of us back in the GTA. The GTMA is undertaking this initiative in each country as an exploratory mission, which will target contacts in the key markets of advanced manufacturing (automotive, aerospace and industrial design) as well as digital media and related enabling-ICT. These areas are particularly strong in each of these countries. Other opportunities abound for meetings in the financial services and biotech/ life sciences sectors.

There will be presentations and workshops in each country, opportunities for small group and one-on-one meetings, as well as company visits, briefings and networking receptions with the Canadian Consulates, Embassies and Canadian trade offices abroad. We will also work with local chambers of commerce, municipalities and the private sector in each country. In Japan we will be in two cities linked with a special trip on the Shinkansen Bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka. The weekend will be free but recommended in Kyoto, Japan.

Don’t wait. The early bird rate is an exceptional rate, but won’t last long!

GTMA Scopes out Opportunities in Phoenix

Following the Governor of Arizona's visit to the GTA in October; Lou Milrad, Chair, GTMA Board; and John Jung, GTMA President & COO; were invited to meet with companies and organizations in the Greater Phoenix area to evaluate long-term opportunities between the two regions. Among the organizations and companies visited were 18 communities that comprise the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) at their monthly Economic Development Meeting, senior staff of GPEC, representatives from technology councils and several high-tech companies in the region, some of whom travelled 3-hours from Tucson to meet with the GTMA. John and Lou presented an economic overview of the GTA to a broad cross section of business, institutions and government during the visit, organized by GPEC. They also met with Doug Paterson, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Consulate in Phoenix and several companies that were organized by the Consulate. They also attended a VC conference called Invest Southwest as guests of the TSX, sponsors of the event. Many ideas are in the pipeline and several senior representatives from Arizona are scheduled to come to the GTA in the New Year to follow-up on this visit. John and Lou were interviewed by the Phoenix Business Journal.

The GTMA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rick Miner to the Board.  Dr. Miner is currently the President of Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology and brings over 30 years of experience in the field of education.  more...

GTMA Welcomes Renewed Corporate Partners: Enbridge Gas Distribution and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

The on-going support and participation of the private sector is essential to the success of the GTMA. We encourage you to consider using the products and services of the GTMA’s corporate partners. view complete listing of GTMA Partner’s Resources and Services

Doing Business in the GTA:

GTMA New Heads Announced in NRU

From Arizona, where they were meeting with counterparts in a similar organization, the new leaders of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance spoke to NRU about their new positions and the group’s new direction for 2008.  more…

Mayor of Vaughan Welcomes International Restaurant Chain

Macquarie Group to Acquire CIT Systems Leasing

GTA News:

MoveOntario 2020

Red-Hot Economy, Young Labour Force Make Calgary Canada's Most Attractive City

People News :

DTZ Barnicke Merger. Chris Ridabock Appointed CEO

New CUI President

New Chair for Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc.

Upcoming Events:

TBOT 120th Annual Dinner • January 28

Economic Developers Council of Ontario's 51st Annual Conference and Showcase • February 5-7

back to top

Archives 2006

2007 Issues

January  February/March  April  May June Summer

September  October  November