Destination BC’s global brand director bids adieu

Jacqueline Simpson, acting global brand director for British Columbia’s tourism office, Destination BC, is moving on.

After 18 years with Destination BC, Simpson is taking on a new role with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

As part of her Destination BC duties, Simpson was tasked with leading the team responsible for managing the Super, Natural British Columbia family of brands, including brand strategy, development, implementation and trademark management.

Simpson led key projects like 100 BC Moments, Artists’ Series and the Google trekker BC Journeys campaigns, and the Invest in Iconics Strategy.

Interac promotes senior marketer

Matt Houghton is starting a new position as digital and integrated marketing leader at Interac.

Houghton will guide Interac’s creative brand strategy, inter-agency engagement and success measurement, and work with the company’s business stakeholders and product marketing leads to develop and execute brand marketing strategies. This includes leadership of integrated MarComm campaigns to drive awareness, trust and acquisition across paid, earned, shared and owned channels to enable business growth.

Prior to joining Interac in 2019, Houghton was senior director of digital strategy for Publicis, leading a team of digital, social and content strategists to support client needs.

The Ontario Real Estate Association promotes VP of communications and marketing

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) is promoting Blue Knox to vice president of public affairs and communications. Knox will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s communications, marketing, government relations and research departments.

Before joining the OREA, Knox was director of communications for Global Affairs Canada, Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development. Most recently, she worked as director of communications in the City of Toronto’s office of the mayor.

Knox’s leadership, OREA says, has played an important role in recent months as its made significant progress on key issues like the implementation of the The Ontario Realtor Wellness Program and its recent report on housing in Ontario.

The Quebec Produce Marketing Association names new executive director

The Quebec Produce Marketing Association (QPMA) Board of Directors has named Mario Lalancette executive director.

He succeeds Sophie Perreault, who held the position for the past 20 years.

Until recently, Lalancette was the QPMA’s director of strategy and communications. As part of his duties, Lalancette was instrumental in rolling out the “I Love Fruits and Veggies Movement,” which promotes greater fruit and vegetable consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle.