GVHBA appoints new chief executive officer, elect board chair, executive & directors
The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) spent the summer conducting a national search for its chief executive officer, and ended up hiring someone from its own backyard.
The GVHBA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob de Wit, 44, as chief executive officer, replacing Peter Simpson, 68, who is retiring at the end of October after 19 years at the helm of what is now Canada’s second-largest home builders’ association. “I am honoured and excited to have the opportunity to join GVHBA and help build on the efforts of Peter and his excellent team. I enjoy my network of friends and associates who are active in the residential construction industry. As an entrepreneur, I can appreciate the issues they face and the value they bring to their customers,” said de Wit.
“This is such a crucial time in the history of residential construction with the explosion of new technologies and environmental complexity, and GVHBA needs to continue to encourage co-operation among members and other stakeholders as they negotiate that change,” said de Wit. “I look forward to leveraging my previous executive leadership with not-for-profits, public and private companies to delivering even greater value for GVHBA members.”
“The succession-planning process started two years ago, and I am delighted Bob emerged as the new leader tasked with taking this respected association to greater heights of excellence for members and consumers alike. GVHBA will benefit greatly from his impressive business experience and well-honed technology skills. I am leaving the association in very capable hands,” said Simpson.
On the heels of this appointment, members of the Association elected Blake Hudema as their 2012/2013 Chair at the association’s Annual Election Meeting.
A Vancouver resident, Hudema is vice-president of Genstar Development Company. Hudema is responsible for the Pacific region investment and development of land for residential, commercial and industrial uses.
Elected to the 2012/2013 GVHBA Executive Committee were First Vice-Chair Lynn Harrison, Harrison Marketing Resources, Port Moody; Second Vice-Chair Ron Rapp, Morningstar Homes, Coquitlam; and Secretary/Treasurer Avtar Johl, Platinum Group of Companies, Surrey. Immediate Past-Chair is Ben Taddei, ParkLane Homes/Bluetree Homes, Vancouver.
Elected to the 2012/2013 GVHBA Board of Directors were Rob Currie, Basement Systems Vancouver Inc., Delta; John Friswell, CCI Renovations, North Vancouver; Rob Grimm, Portrait Homes, Richmond; Ross Gurney, TD Financial Group, Vancouver; Candy Hodson, Black Press, Surrey; Richard Kaufmann, Pacific Rim Cabinets Ltd., Delta; Dan Noel, FortisBC, Surrey; Todd Senft, reVISION Custom Home Renovations, Vancouver; Don Stratford, Mosaic Avenue Construction Ltd., Vancouver, and David Worthington, McQuarrie Hunter LLP, Surrey.