FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Lacombe, AB – May 26, 2025] – Western Crop Innovations (WCI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Trevor Sears as the organization’s permanent Executive Director. His hiring follows a comprehensive four-month search led by WCI’s Interim Board in partnership with Osborne Talent Acquisition. Mr. Sears will officially assume the role on Monday, June 2, 2025, just ahead of WCI’s inaugural Annual General Meeting.
Mr. Sears brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in Canada’s agriculture sector. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Canada Pork, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the global competitiveness of the Canadian pork industry. His career also includes senior roles at Maple Leaf Foods, where he led international sales and strategic market development across Asia. Throughout his career, Trevor has been recognized for his collaborative leadership, consistently driving innovation and delivering results for Canadian producers by building strong industry partnerships.
“The Interim Board is very pleased to welcome Mr. Sears as Executive Director of Western Crop Innovations,” said Jason Lenz, Interim Chair of WCI. “His extensive experience in the agriculture sector made him a front runner very early in the hiring process. His leadership in both for-profit and non-profit organizations reflects the versatility and vision we need at WCI, and this well-rounded skill set makes Trevor an ideal fit for this role.”
Lenz also expressed appreciation for the recruitment process: “As our transition year concludes, the Interim Board knew selecting a permanent Executive Director was a critical milestone. We are grateful for the professionalism and guidance of Osborne Talent Acquisition Specialist Leah Anderson throughout the process, and we thank all the talented candidates who expressed interest in joining WCI.”
Mr. Sears will work closely with Interim Executive Director David Hoekstra during his initial weeks to ensure a smooth leadership transition. “We sincerely thank Mr. Hoekstra for his excellent work guiding WCI over the past several weeks,” said Lenz. “His contributions have positioned us well for this next phase.”
Speaking to the opportunity ahead, Mr. Sears stated: “I’m truly excited to take this next step in my career with Western Crop Innovations and to continue contributing to Canada’s agriculture sector. WCI’s commitment to practical, producer-driven research is what drew me to this role. The organization already has a world-class team, and I look forward to working with them to expand WCI’s impact for farmers and agricultural communities across Western Canada.”
For more information, please contact:
Keeley Bender – Communications & Marketing Coordinator – Western Crop Innovations – kbender@westerncropinnovations.com | (587) 436-0007