Media Release
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Downtown Halifax Business Commission Welcomes New Board Chair
Kjipuktuk/Halifax, N.S. – Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) is pleased to welcome Ashwin Kutty, President & CEO of WeUsThem, as the new Chair of our Board of Directors. The appointment became official this morning at DHBC’s Annual General Meeting and State of the Downtown event held at Casino Nova Scotia.
Kutty is replacing now Past-Chair, Christian Rankin, Co-Owner, Obladee Wine Bar. DHBC also welcomed four new Board Members: Trish Calder, Barrington Consulting Group; Sally Christie, Halifax Regional Municipality; Raeesa Lalani, Prismatic Arts Festival; and Joe McGuinness, Legendary Hospitality.
“We are very lucky to have Ashwin coming in as Chair with his breadth of knowledge across many industries: Advertising and Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism, Healthcare, Education and Consumer Goods and his expertise will serve DHBC and our 1600+ membership very well,” says Paul MacKinnon, CEO of DHBC. “Ashwin is also making organizational history today, as the first person of colour to take on this role in our 35-year-old history.”
Kutty has been recognized numerous times as Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs, has been the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and has been named Canada’s Next Generation Executive Leader. He has been a mentor to various young professionals, leading a signature event called AdFree30, providing organizations globally with free consultative advice and is a very active community volunteer.
“Downtown Halifax serves as a huge economic driver for our Province, and we need to continue to build on the vibrancy we are known for. How this manifests itself in a new post-pandemic world is going to be the work ahead and I look forward to it with the assistance of all our government partners, our membership, and our talented team at DHBC,” says Kutty. “I want people to feel comfortable reaching out to me with their ideas, as we look to what’s next for our beautiful Downtown Halifax.”
2023-2024 DHBC Board of Directors (bolded = new)
Ashwin Kutty, WeUsThem - Chair
Marilisa Benigno, Benigno Group of Companies - Vice-Chair
Erin Esiyok-Prime, Events East Group - Secretary/Treasurer
Issmat Al-Akhali, Cameo Hotel & Suites - Member at Large
Sanjeev Pushkarna, Nova Scotia Power - Member at Large
Christian Rankin, Obladee Wine Bar - Past-Chair
Trish Calder, Barrington Consulting Group
Melissa Carey, RCR Hospitality Group
Sally Christie, Halifax Regional Municipality
Kristan Hines, NATIONAL Public Relations
Raeesa Lalani, Prismatic Arts Festival
Joyce Liu, Lumi Studios Media + Production
Matthew Martel, Black Business Initiative
Joe McGuinness, Legendary Hospitality
Blaise Morrison, The Armour Group Limited
Jeff Ransome, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel
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For more information:
Jayme Lynn Butt (she/her)
Communications Manager
jayme@downtownhalifax.ca