Klugman to remain in place to steer Communitech through effects of COVID-19 crisis

KITCHENER, ONT., June 07, 2020 — Iain Klugman, the Communitech CEO whose 15 years of leadership helped put Waterloo Region’s tech community on the global map, has agreed to extend his term by an additional year, to January 2022 or as long as required to facilitate a successful transition to his successor, at the request of the corporation’s board of directors.

Klugman had announced last October that he would step down in early 2021. But, in light of the dynamic business and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, Communitech’s board asked Klugman on March 26, 2020 to delay his departure. Klugman did not hesitate to accept.

“Iain’s been an exceptional leader for the organization, and this is yet another sign of his commitment to Communitech and the Waterloo Region community,” said Dave Caputo, a serial entrepreneur and chair of Communitech’s board of directors. “We’re grateful that he’s prepared to continue leading the team through the COVID-19 crisis and into calmer waters. That will give the board and management team an opportunity to manage COVID-19 and the CEO search sequentially, rather than concurrently, and help ensure we do both really, really well.”

Klugman’s term is now set to expire on Jan. 31, 2022. The CEO search committee of the Communitech board of directors, chaired by Communitech board member Bill Currie, will briefly pause its work.

“I am committed to steering Communitech through this turbulence, and also to supporting our members, partners and friends in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor through the current uncertainty back towards certain success,” Klugman said. “It is clear that ‘tech for good’ is needed now, more than ever, and that will always be core to our mission at Communitech.”

Under Klugman’s leadership, Communitech has grown from a local industry association into a globally recognized innovation hub, providing facilities, programming and advocacy to a dynamic and growing community of 1,400 technology companies in Waterloo Region. During Klugman’s tenure, Communitech has partnered with local, provincial and federal governments to open collaborative work spaces and labs in Kitchener and Waterloo; launched Canada’s first accelerator for women-led companies; built a Canada-wide network of peer organizations; and pushed for policy improvements such as Canada’s Global Skills Strategy to help companies hire top international talent.

-30-