Thompson replaces VAdm James King (retired) who was instrumental in creating COVE
3 December 2020 (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) – The Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE), a world-class ocean technology innovation hub and business park, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Thompson as Chair of its Board of Directors effective December 3, 2020, replacing Vice Admiral James (Jim) King (retired).
Thompson, Executive in Residence at Cox & Palmer, joined the COVE Board of Directors in September 2017 and has Chaired the Governance Committee for over a year. He brings to COVE over 35 years of experience that includes business ownership, leadership roles in publicly traded companies and government, public affairs, stakeholder relations, public policy, and news media. An honourary degree recipient from Dalhousie University, Thompson has served as a Board Member and Chair of both profit and not for profit organizations.
“I’m deeply grateful to Jim King for his vision and board leadership in creating and establishing COVE as a world recognized ocean technology hub,” said Thompson. “Our focus moving forward is to build on the solid foundation that is in place, refine our programming and create new opportunities for Nova Scotia’s ocean technology companies to grow and thrive.”
“It has been an honour to Chair and serve as a Director on COVE’s Board of Directors alongside impressive members and staff over the past eight years,” said VAdm King. “It has been remarkable to see COVE become an industrial growth hub for ocean technology companies, from start-ups to international ocean leaders, to collaborate and innovate, and I look forward to seeing what will be accomplished in the years to come.”
VAdm King served on COVE’s Board of Directors, formally known as the Institute for Ocean Research Enterprise’s (IORE) since 2012, during which time the planning and cultivation of COVE began. He was Chair of COVE’s Board of Directors from 2017 to 2020.
Since opening in 2018, COVE has secured more than 70 tenants and built strong partnerships, delivered ocean related programming and initiatives across Canada, and been recognized by global peers at the Marine Technology Society with the 2019 International Award for Advancing Marine Science and Technology.
“Our world-leading environment for ocean technology companies wouldn’t exist in Nova Scotia without Jim King’s leadership,” said Melanie Nadeau, CEO of COVE. “COVE’s team and tenants are thankful for Jim’s commitment and dedication to ocean technology and being a champion of COVE. I look forward to working with Ian and the Board to harness the momentum of the past two years and ensure COVE is maximizing its impact on Nova Scotia’s, Canada’s, and the world’s ocean technology sector.”
COVE’s Board of Directors consists of:Don Bureaux President, NSCC; Tony Chedrawy, President & CEO, MetOcean; Captain Allan Gray, President & CEO, Halifax Port Authority; Matt Hebb, AVP Government Relations & Economic Development, Dalhousie University; Mark Jollymore, President, Innovasea Systems Inc; Lucia MacIsaac, President & CEO, LearnCorp International; Melanie Nadeau, CEO, COVE; Rear-Admiral John Newton, Managing Director, FleetWay Inc.; Aubrey Palmeter, President & CEO, Eastpoint; Captain Anthony Patterson, President & CEO, Virtual Marine Technology; Denise Pothier, Vice President, Stantec; Aaron Plamondon, Director, Industrial Participation, Irving Shipbuilding Inc.; Ken Walker, President, PGS Consulting; Ian Thompson (Chair), Executive in Residence, Cox & Palmer Law Firm; Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright, Founder & CEO, 7 Mile Bay; and Paul Yeatman, President, Geospectrum Technologies and President, Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia.
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About COVE
Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) is an ocean tech innovation hub and business park located in Dartmouth, Canada. COVE brings together people, ideas, industry, and research to enable our community and members to work in new ways. As part of its programming, COVE fosters the development of an engaged workforce for ocean industries to meet today’s and future needs and takes advantage of both on and offshore shared infrastructure to enable new ocean products and services. COVE is a catalyst in creating the world’s next practical, commercial, and revolutionary ocean tech advances. COVE’s founding partner is Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) under the National Shipbuilding Strategy Value Proposition. To learn more about COVE, visit www.coveocean.com.