Premier MacLellan Names New Chief of Staff

Premier Russell MacLellan today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Hayes of Halifax as his new chief of staff, effective Sept. 8.

Mr. Hayes will replace Susan Trenholm, who was appointed to the job by Mr. MacLellan when he became premier in July 1997. At that time, Ms. Trenholm agreed to move from Ottawa to the Premier's Office for one year and has now decided to pursue career opportunities in the private sector.

Premier MacLellan said that while he was losing an able adviser and administrator as a result of Ms. Trenholm's decision, he was understanding and supportive of her plans.

"Susan is an exceptionally bright and focused individual," said the premier, "and I fully expect to follow her continuing accomplishments with both interest and pride."

Ms. Trenholm has agreed to remain for a period of time to assist Mr. Hayes with the transition.

The premier said his office and the province will continue to be well served with the appointment of Mr. Hayes.

"Tom Hayes brings a wide range of experience from the senior levels of both the private and the public sectors," said Premier MacLellan. "Furthermore, this experience is augmented by a laudable record of community service. He's a man who has proven he can effectively read the public pulse, and that's a real asset in this job."

Mr. Hayes, who currently heads his own consulting company, has extensive experience in the investment, finance and venture capital fields, as well as the seafood industry where his company was awarded the Canada Award for Business Excellence as a small business, and where he was subsequently named a winner of the Atlantic Canada Entrepreneur Award.

He has also been a senior public servant with both the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of Regional Economic Expansion. Some of his current community responsibilities include being chairman of the Halifax-Dartmouth Port Development Commission and vice-chair of the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Board. Mr. Hayes has also served as chairman of the board of governors for the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council and as a governor of St. Francis Xavier University. He has been involved in a wide range of community service and industry organizations at the local, regional and national levels, including the Association of Canadian Venture Capital Companies, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of Canada, and Big Brothers of Canada, to name just a representative sample.