Dimitri Soudas

Dimitri Soudas
Dimitri Soudas (left) with Sidney Crosby
Director of Communications, Prime Minister's Office
In office 2010 – September 5, 2011
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	John Williamson
Succeeded by	Angelo Persichilli
Press Secretary, Prime Minister's Office
In office 2006–2010
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Melanie Gruer
Succeeded by	Sara MacIntyre Andrew MacDougall
Personal details
Born	(1979-07-10) July 10, 1979 Montreal, Quebec
Political party	Conservative (2003-2015); Liberal (2015-present)
Other political affiliations	Canadian Alliance
Profession	Communications Executive

Dimitri Soudas (born July 10, 1979) is a former Director of Communications in the Canadian Prime Minister's Office and former Executive Director of the Conservative Party of Canada.^[1]

Early life

Soudas was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, to Greek parents.^[2] He completed a degree in health sciences at Dawson College and studied biochemistry at Concordia University. Soudas also holds a Masters Degree from Simon Fraser University

Personal life

He has 3 children with his first wife. His fiancee is MP Eve Adams.

Political career

PMO Press Secretary

Soudas moved to Ottawa in 2002, shortly after Harper became leader of the Canadian Alliance and Leader of the Official Opposition. He is also the longest-serving communication staff in Harper's entourage. When Harper became Prime Minister after the 2006 federal election, Soudas joined him in government, initially as press secretary.

In 2008 an investigation by The Globe and Mail and CBC News uncovered allegations that Soudas politically interfered in a pair of political dossiers. Soudas admitted his involvement but has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.^[3] On June 4, 2008, Mary Dawson, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner issued a report clearing Soudas from any wrongdoing in the matter.^[4]

In 2009 Soudas was forced to apologize for providing incorrect information to Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding statements attributed to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff. At the G8 on the world stage, Harper was obliged to retract his statements about domestic political matters in the midst of a meeting surrounding the world's current economic crisis.^[5]

On March 13, 2010, Soudas's American counterpart Robert Gibbs wore a Canadian hockey sweater, after Gibbs lost a friendly bet to him regarding the victories of national ice hockey teams of both men and women at the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[6]

Prime Minister of Canada's Director of Communications and Chief Spokesman

He was promoted to Director of Communications in spring 2010, following the resignation of John Williamson.

On June 1, Soudas revealed he would be stepping down as Harper's chief spokesman on September 5, 2011 to focus on his family.^[7] He was succeeded by Angelo Persichilli.^[8]

Conservative Party of Canada Executive Director

In December 2013, the Conservative Party of Canada's National Council confirmed Soudas as the new Executive Director, replacing Dan Hilton. Soudas was rumoured to have been personally asked by Prime Minister Harper to take the job.^[9] On March 30, 2014, Soudas was told to step down or be fired as Executive Director after allegedly trying to interfere with his fiancee Eve Adams' nomination to be the Conservative Party of Canada's candidate in the riding of Oakville North—Burlington.^[1][10]

Political future

In January 2015, Soudas was the subject of an attempt to draft him as a potential Conservative candidate in the Oakville North—Burlington riding which Adams had sought but declined to state whether or not he was interested.^[11] On February 9, 2015, Adams crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party of Canada on February 9, 2015.^[12] Soudas stated that he "fully support[s]" her decision to join the Liberals;^[13] it was reported that he would assist her campaign,^[14] but not have any formal role in the Liberal election campaign, and that he helped broker the deal between Adams and the Liberals.^[15]

Private sector career

Canadian Olympic Committee Executive Director

On September 28, 2011, Soudas announced that he will become the Executive Director, Communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee.^[16] His role is to provide overall direction, management and a strategic view for all COC communication activities, both internally and externally. He will be the key corporate spokesperson responsible for managing its brand message, playing a key role in driving communications strategies with its stakeholder and partner groups: athletes, National Sports Federation's (NSF's), Organizing Committees, Sport Canada, broadcast partners, and business partners. He will be managing the COC communications team and is the lead communications representative at Olympic Games.^[17]

Stampede Group Managing Partner

In September 2014, Dimitri Soudas joined Stampede Group, as a Managing Partner.

International Economic Forum of the Americas Chief Operating Officer

In December 2014, Dimitri Soudas joined International Economic Forum of the Americas, as Chief Operating Officer while remaining Managing Partner of Stampede Group.

References