Two senior leaders of the Alberta Wheat Commission have been ousted along with the manager of a farmers’ interest-free loan run by the organization.
General manager Tom Steve, chief operating officer Syeda Khurram and FarmCash program manager Hasan Kazmi are no longer working at the commission as of this week.
Chair Greg Sears said in an emailed statement the departures were effective as of April 26 but wouldn’t elaborate as to the reasons why out of respect for the individuals’ privacy.
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However, he said the departures have had an effect on the organization.
“We can all acknowledge that recent events have had a significant impact on staff and have led to a deterioration in the culture of our organization,” read the statement from Sears.
“These events have caused emotional and mental hardships on many, and for that we feel a responsibility to correct course and work with new leadership that promotes a positive culture that continues to serve the needs of our stakeholders, delegates and farmers.”
Sears said the search for replacements will begin immediately while the board of directors’ executive council will take over management in the meantime.
Both Steve and Khurram are long-time employees of the commission. Steve was hired in 2014 as general manager of the Alberta Wheat Commission, retaining the title during the amalgamation of management structure with the Alberta Barley Commission. Khurram joined the commission in 2011, becoming COO in 2020.
It’s unclear when Kazmi took over management of the FarmCash program, which is designed to provide low- and no-interest loans to producers to act as bridge financing for on-farm operations.
The federal loan program administered by the commission was officially launched April 1.
Contact alex.mccuaig@producer.com
