Toronto, Ontario – The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) has announced Jamie Lim’s plan to retire as president and CEO at the end of the year. OFIA also announced the appointment of Ian Dunn, executive director of Policy and Operations, as interim resident and CEO effective January 1, 2021.

Erik Holmstrom, chair of the Board of Directors, said, “OFIA is a far more effective and collaborative Association today following Jamie’s seventeen-year tenure as president and CEO.”

In expressing its appreciation to Lim, the Board of Directors recognized her dedication and unwavering commitment to OFIA’s members, Ontario’s renewable forest sector, and the people of Northern and Rural Ontario. Mr. Holmstrom added, “Jamie’s enthusiastic leadership allowed our Association to navigate in complex environments, engage diverse stakeholders and rights holders and most importantly, lead to the development of Ontario’s recently announced Sustainable Growth: Ontario Forest Sector Strategy. Her optimism for the sustainable growth of Ontario’s forest sector continues to be contagious.”

“This is an important step in the implementation of our CEO succession plan,” commented Holmstrom. He went on to add, “Ian has worked closely with Jamie and the members for many years and has demonstrated his experience and commitment to the OFIA. We are pleased to have Ian take on this role in the new year.”

The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) is a provincial trade association and is the home of CLA Grading and Inspection. For 77 years, OFIA has represented forestry companies ranging from multinational corporations to family-owned businesses that operate across Ontario. OFIA’s member companies produce a full spectrum of renewable forest products, ranging from dimensional lumber, pulp, and paper and paper packaging, to engineered wood products and research and development in innovative technologies, such as engineered soils and organic mulch. Today, Ontario’s forest industry generates over $18 billion in revenue and supports almost 147,000 direct and indirect jobs in communities across the province.