REGINA — Bill Greuel is leaving Protein Industries Canada to become Saskatchewan’s deputy agriculture minister.
He replaces Rick Burton, who is retiring after more than 35 years with the agriculture ministry and eight years as deputy.
Greuel left the ministry to head PIC, one of Canada’s five innovation clusters, in 2018. His departure is effective July 31; Burton retires Aug. 15.
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PIC board chair Tyler Groeneveld said Greuel was a strong leader, taking the organization from one employee to 26 and to managing investments worth more than half a billion dollars.
An interim chief executive officer is to be named soon as the board conducts a search for a permanent replacement.
Meghan Gervais, PIC’s chief technology officer, is also leaving July 31 to be vice-president of health, safety and compliance at Federated Co-op Ltd.
Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit acknowledged Burton’s work in the legislature May 16, noting the various positions he held during his years as a civil servant. Those include assistant deputy minister of policy, assistant deputy of regulatory and innovation, director of policy branch and director of crop development.
“I’ve seen the respect that Rick has from his colleagues right across this country, and he has earned that,” Marit said.
Opposition agriculture critic Trent Wotherspoon described Burton as “an exceptional civil servant” who contributed much to the province.
Greuel served alongside Burton in the deputy’s office. He was the assistant of regulatory and innovation when he moved to PIC.
