After a thorough recruitment process, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Steve Blakely has been selected as AFSC’s Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2018.
Blakely will report to AFSC’s Board of Directors, through the Board Chair, and is responsible for carrying out the policies of the Government of Alberta through the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. The CEO supports policy development and leads the Executive Leadership Team in responding to operational issues and challenges while achieving business plan goals and objectives.
“AFSC is committed to investing in Alberta by providing our clients the products they need to manage risk and grow their operations. Steve’s strong financial background will ensure Alberta agricultural producers are receiving the support and services needed to strengthen and grow rural Alberta.”
~Jennifer Wood, AFSC Board Chair
“We are building on an economic recovery that lasts and works for everyone and AFSC plays an important role. The Corporation provides insurance and lending programs to producers and rural-based entrepreneurs and, with its leadership overhaul now complete, I look forward to continued support for economic development in rural Alberta.”
~Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Blakely brings in excess of 40 years of financial industry experience to the position, including roles as President and CEO of Servus Credit Union and President and CEO of Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Alberta. He is currently Board Chair at Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario, a regulator and deposit insurer for Ontario Credit Unions.
“I eagerly anticipate working with the team at AFSC to build upon recent strategies put in place by the Board of Directors aimed at building a strong, growing, diversified agriculture and agri-food sector in Alberta.”
~Steve Blakely, newly appointed CEO of AFSC
About AFSC
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) is a provincial Crown corporation that provides producers, agribusinesses and other small businesses loans, crop insurance and farm income disaster assistance. AFSC has provided Alberta farmers with hail insurance for 80 years, and has grown into a diverse corporation with several core business areas, including crop insurance, livestock price insurance, farm loans, commercial loans and farm income disaster assistance. AFSC has 44 branch offices across Alberta and is headquartered in Lacombe. AFSC employs almost 700 people across the province and has been named a Top 70 Alberta Employer and Top 100 Canada Employer for 2018.
For more information on AFSC, please visit: AFSC.ca | Twitter