Canadian Chamber of Commerce announces new Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Relations and new Chief Economist

(OTTAWA) – August 31, 2021 – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Agnew to the role of Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Relations, effective August 16 and the appointment of Stephen Tapp to the role of Chief Economist, effective September 13.

“This is a critical time for Canada’s business community, and we’re delighted to be able to make what is widely-recognized as the best policy team in Ottawa even stronger,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

“Mark Agnew is a well-respected colleague who has the energy, expertise and experience to take our growing policy team to the next level, ensuring we are the first mover on national policy issues that drive business success,” said Gayla Brock-Woodland, the Canadian Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer. “We’re also thrilled to welcome Stephen Tapp as our Chief Economist. His 20 years of experience working in top economic organizations has given him a deep understanding of Canada’s economy. He will expand our capabilities in providing real-time business data and economic insights for every size, sector and region of business.”

The Canadian Chamber is entering an exciting period of transformational change and expansion to leverage the full power of its national network to shape the future of Canadian business. The organization will extend its policy and advocacy offerings while at the same time putting itself at the forefront with business data, insights and economic forecasting.

“I look forward to taking on this role at a critical time for the Canadian Chamber to cover the full spectrum of domestic and international issues facing businesses. The Canadian Chamber is the country’s largest business association, representing companies of all sizes across all sectors, and the coming months will be a vital period to work with the incoming Parliament to strengthen our economy and build a brighter future for all Canadians,” said Mr. Agnew.

“I’m excited to join the Canadian Chamber’s executive leadership team and look forward to developing the organization’s data, analytics and forecasting capacities to position it as a go-to resource. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with our national network of chambers of commerce and with Canadian companies of all sizes to help Canada’s economy become more competitive, sustainable and inclusive in the years ahead,” said Mr. Tapp.

Prior to his appointment, Mark Agnew was the Canadian Chamber’s Vice President, Policy and International, leading the organization’s engagement with international fora such as the G7, the G20, the OECD and the International Chamber of Commerce. He also managed the Canadian Chamber’s work on critical bilateral trade issues, including the Canada-U.S. relationship through the CUSMA negotiations.

Prior to joining the Canadian Chamber, Stephen Tapp, PhD was the Deputy Chief Economist and Research Director at Export Development Canada where he helped oversee EDC’s forecasts for the global economy and Canadian exports, guided quantitative risk and scenario analysis, and led the research department. He also designed and analyzed surveys to deliver insight on Canadian business experiences, challenges and opportunities and launched a new series of economic publications and products, including EDC’s Canadian Economic Recovery Tracker.