Genome Prairie names new president

Saskatoon, SK and Winnipeg, MB – Dr Arnold Naimark, chair of Genome Prairie’s board of directors, announced today that Dr Wilf Keller has been appointed the new president and CEO of Genome Prairie.

“Dr Keller’s research experience, accomplishments and exemplary record of leadership at the National Research Council – Plant Biotechnology Institute make him the ideal choice for president and CEO,” says Dr Naimark. Dr Keller has held the position of director of research and, most recently, acting director general, at NRC-PBI.

His appointment comes at a critical time for Genome Prairie. Genome Canada’s Applied Genomics Research in Bioproducts and Crops (ABC) Competition is currently underway and involves several crops and bioproducts researchers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The competition creates an opportunity to bring a substantial amount of additional funding for genomics research to these provinces to advance agricultural production; and the use of renewable feedstocks for the production of bioproducts.

Dr Keller will assume his full presidential responsibilities on October 1, 2008.