The Agriculture Financial Services Corporation was happy to introduce their new CEO Monday morning, the conclusion of a lengthy search process which began after the former CEO and entire Board were dismissed in June of 2016, following violations of the Crowns corporations' code of conduct.

Steve Blakely has over 40 years in the finance industry, including roles as President and CEO of Servus Credit Union, and he's the current Board Chair at Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario, a regulator and deposit insurer for the Ontario Credit Unions.

Blakely said he's excited to get started working with the board to bring the AFSC into the future.

“Particularly in the lending mandate it’s going to be critical for us here in Alberta as we move forward and we change sort of the way we do things here. I think it’s going to be very much welcomed and a very positive thing for the agricultural community here in Alberta.”

Blakely says he hopes to be able to carry out the strategic agenda of the AF-SC board, putting a fine tune on the great work they've already been doing.

“And when I talk about that, it’s not only the board, is the executive leadership team and the staff that are involved here in AFSC as well, so it’s really to take the organization to the levels that the new board has chosen.”

Blakely will start his new position on May 1st, as the head of a corporation which provides producers, agribusinesses and other small business loans, crop insurance and farm income disaster assistance for 80 years.

(L-R) AFSC board members Anna Harder and Peter Galloway, Board Chair Jennifer Wood, ADSC CEO Steve Blakely, and AFSC board member Gord Cove)