Peter Bruijns has been hired as the new executive director of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.
Bruijns, who will take over the position as of May 29, fills the role formerly held by Tom Vair, who left to take a position with the city in September, 2016.
“Peter’s experience, combined with his passion for the information technology and science sectors, will allow the innovation centre to further advance and grow the local economy and launch new innovative and business opportunities,” said board chair Chris Wray in a news release.
Bruijns has a diploma in architectural technology from Fanshawe College, a mechanical engineering degree from Western University, an executive MBA from the Ivey School of Business, and is a licensed engineer in the Province of Ontario.
He has more than 20 years of senior executive experience in entrepreneurial startups, publicly traded corporations, not-for-profit and international business, particularly in China and the United States. Bruijns also has knowledge in process engineering, and construction, health care, biotechnology and environmental technologies to go along with his comprehensive management skillsets.
“SSMIC has done a great job getting to the stage it is at today along with the city as a whole. When comparing the energy in Sault Ste. Marie with other cities, it is clear that the Sault has established an exceptional determination to build a growing, safe and viable future for its citizens,” Bruijns said.
“I am looking forward to working with the staff and all the other stakeholders to find ways to accelerate economic performance, because in today’s world good is nowhere near good enough when the competition for success is no longer every other city in the world; it is technology itself.”
Bruijns will be based out of the innovation centre’s main office in the city’s Civic Centre.
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre is a non-profit organization established in 1999 to function as a catalyst for economic development and diversification in the information technology and science knowledge-based sectors.
