Dimitri Soudas: Difference between revisions

Dimitri Soudas (born July 10, 1979) is a former Director of Communications and Chief Spokesman to the Canadian Prime Minister, former Executive Director of the Canadian Olympic Committee and former Executive Director/CEO of the Conservative Party of Canada.

He is currently the Managing Partner of Stampede Group which specialises in food trade into Asian markets and business development.

Dimitri Soudas has developed a well-earned reputation as a top performer at the highest levels of government, the private sector, NGO’s and not for profit organisations. Accustomed to high-performance professional environments, he is perhaps best known for his role as the chief spokesperson and Director of Communications to the Prime Minister of Canada where he served with distinction for a decade after fulfilling a number of roles there beginning in 2002.

Following this challenging and rewarding period, Soudas transitioned into the position of Executive Director (Communications) at the Canadian Olympic Committee. His ability to develop a dynamic corporate communications strategy, as well as his work within the organizational structure of the COC, was highly regarded and credited for that organization’s improved government relations, public relations and extremely successful fundraising efforts.

It was this success that led to Soudas’s appointment as Executive Director/CEO of the Conservative Party of Canada, an organisation with more than 100 employees and oversaw a $20 million annual budget.

He then entered the private sector, becoming the Managing Partner of the Stampede Group. In his current role, Mr. Soudas’s expertise in the areas of management, business development and international relations has allowed him to develop successful strategic partnerships for clients in Canada, the United States, China and India.

This combined experience has led to several corporate board appointments for Mr. Soudas (Chair of the Board of Directors of Merry Montreal, EVP 2018 World Equestrian Games, Senior Advisor to the President of Cavalia, Patron's Lunch Organising Committee Member, CNP Board Member, etc.).

Dimitri Soudas is fluently trilingual in English, French and Greek as well as intermediate Spanish.

Early life

Soudas was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, to Greek parents He was raised by a single mom and his grandmother. His first job was at the age of 13, delivering groceries on a bicycle for Delta Supermarket. A nurse by trade, his mother worked as a waitress in Montreal to put him through private elementary and high school and university. He completed a diploma in health sciences at Dawson College and studied biochemistry at Concordia University. Soudas also holds a Masters Degree from Simon Fraser University.

Personal life

Dimitri Soudas has 3 children with his first wife. He was engaged to former MP Eve_Adams.

Political career

PMO Press Secretary

Soudas moved to Ottawa in 2002, shortly after Stephen Harper became leader of the Canadian Alliance and Leader of the Official Opposition. He is also the longest-serving communication staff in Harper's entourage. When Harper became Prime Minister after the 2006 federal election, Soudas joined him in government, initially as press secretary.

In 2008 an investigation by The Globe and Mail and CBC News uncovered allegations that Soudas politically interfered in a pair of political dossiers. Soudas admitted his involvement but has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. On June 4, 2008, Mary Dawson, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner issued a report clearing Soudas from any wrongdoing in the matter.

In 2009 Soudas was forced to apologize for providing incorrect information to Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding statements attributed to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff. At the G8 on the world stage, Harper was obliged to retract his statements about domestic political matters in the midst of a meeting surrounding the world's current economic crisis.

On March 13, 2010, Soudas's American counterpart Robert Gibbs wore a Canadian hockey sweater, after Gibbs lost a friendly bet to Canada regarding the victories of national ice hockey teams of both men and women at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Prime Minister of Canada's Director of Communications and Chief Spokesman

He was promoted to Director of Communications in spring 2010, following the resignation of John Williamson.

On June 1, Soudas revealed he would be stepping down as Harper's chief spokesman on September 5, 2011. He was succeeded by Angelo Persichilli.

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Conservative Party of Canada Executive Director

In December 2013, the Conservative Party of Canada's National Council confirmed Soudas as the new Executive Director, replacing Dan Hilton. Soudas was personally asked by Prime Minister Harper to take the job. On March 30, 2014, Soudas was told to step down as Executive Director and allegedly trying to interfere with his former fiancee's Eve Adams' nomination to be the Conservative Party of Canada's candidate in the riding of Oakville North—Burlington.

Political future

In January 2015, Soudas was the subject of an attempt to draft him as a potential Conservative candidate in the Oakville North—Burlington riding which Adams had sought but declined to state whether or not he was interested. On February 9, 2015, Adams crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party of Canada. Soudas stated that he "fully support[s]" her decision to join the Liberals; it was reported that he would assist her campaign, but not have any formal role in the Liberal election campaign, and that he brokered the deal between Adams and the Liberals.

Private sector career

Canadian Olympic Committee Executive Director

Dimitri Soudas announces the Canadian Olympic Team for Sochi

On September 28, 2011, Soudas announced that he will become the Executive Director, Communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee. His role is to provide overall direction, management and a strategic view for all COC communication activities, both internally and externally. He will be the key corporate spokesperson responsible for managing its brand message, playing a key role in driving communications strategies with its stakeholder and partner groups: athletes, National Sports Federation's (NSF's), Organizing Committees, Sport Canada, broadcast partners, and business partners. He will be managing the COC communications team and is the lead communications representative at Olympic Games.

Stampede Group Managing Partner

In September 2014, Dimitri Soudas joined Stampede Group, as the Managing Partner. Stampede Group specialist in Business Development and International Trade.

International Economic Forum of the Americas Chief Operating Officer

In December 2014, Dimitri Soudas joined International Economic Forum of the Americas, as Chief Operating Officer while remaining Managing Partner of Stampede Group.

Canadian Nectar Products Board of Directors

In August 2014, Dimitri Soudas joined the Board of Directors of Canadian Nectar Products

World Equestrian Games Executive Vice President

In May 2015, Dimitri Soudas became the Executive Vice President (Business Affairs and Corporate Sponsorship for the World Equestrian Games World Equestrian Games 2018

Cavalia

In September 2015, Dimitri Soudas joined the Advisory Board of Cavalia, as a Senior Advisor to the President where he is responsible for Business Development and Public Affairs.