Dimitri Soudas

Dimitri Soudas (born July 10, 1979) is the former Director of Communications to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Executive Director of the Canadian Olympic Committee and former Executive Director of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is currently the Vice-President of Groupe Selection, the largest privately owned retirement home planners, builders, owners and operators in Canada. As Vice-President of Groupe Selections, he is responsible for Investments, Acquisitions and Partnerships. Dimitri is the former the Managing Partner of Stampede Group, former Advisory Board Member and Senior Advisor to the President of Cavalia and is a member of several Boards of Directors including as Chairman of the Board of Letho Resources which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX-V: LET) and Merry Montreal.

Dimitri Soudas
Canadian Prime Minister's Office
Director of Communications
In office
2010–2011
Appointed byStephen Harper
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
Preceded byJohn Williamson
Succeeded byAngelo Persichilli
Personal details
Born (1979-07-10) July 10, 1979
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Vezos (separated since summer 2019)
Children3 (Georgia, Theodore, Katherine)
ParentsGeorgia Vagia and Nicholas Soudas
Alma materUniversity of Western Ontario (Ivey School of Business), Simon Fraser University, Dawson College

He has also served as the Chief Operating Officer at the International Economic Forum of the Americas. He is also an Advisory Board Member of Montreal’s International Triathlon and a Strategic Advisor at Réseau-Sélection and Aleafia Health.

He has a degree in Health Sciences at Dawson College and studied biochemistry at Concordia University. Soudas also holds a Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A) from the Ivey School of Business and a Masters of Arts (M.A) in Communications and International Relations from Simon Fraser University.

While perhaps best known for his role as the Chief Spokesperson and Director of Communications for the Prime Minister of Canada, Dimitri is also the former Executive Director (Communications) and Press Chief of the Canadian Olympic Committee, COO of the International Economic Forum of the Americas Managing Partner of Stampede Group, Advisory Board Member of Cavalia, Executive Vice President, Business Affairs World Equestrian Games and Executive Director / CEO of the Conservative Party of Canada. He currently is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Letho Resources, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Merry Montreal, Advisory Board Member of the Montreal International Triathlon.

Dimitri was the only non British to be a member of the organising committee of the Patron’s Lunch, marking Queen Elizabeth’s II 90th birthday celebration in London, UK. He is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Senate of Canada 150th Commemorative Medal.

He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Masters of Arts from Simon Fraser University.

Early life

Soudas was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, to Greek parents. He was raised by his mother and grandmother in Parc-Extension, a working class neighbourhood of Montreal.

Career

Soudas served for one term as a school trustee at the Western Quebec School board from 2002 to 2005.

In 2001, he started his career in politics at the municipal level during the Mayoralty campaign in Montreal.

In 2002, he moved to Ottawa to work for the leader of the official opposition as a junior communications officer for Francophone Media. He quickly got promoted to Deputy Press Secretary Director of Stakeholder relations. According to Tom Flanagan, he played a key role in Stephen Harper’s victory of the leadership race of the new Conservative Party of Canada.

Between 2006 and 2011, Soudas was a "high profile" member of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's communication team,[1] and one of the Prime Minister's "closest and most faithful aides."[2] Initially serving as a Press Secretary and later as an Associate Director of Communications for the Prime Minister's Office,[3] Soudas was appointed as Director of Communications for the Prime Minister's Office following the resignation of his predecessor, John Williamson in the spring of 2010.[3][4][5] On June 1, 2011, Soudas revealed he would be stepping down as Harper's chief spokesman.[6] He was succeeded by Angelo Persichilli.[7]

Beginning in October 2011, Soudas served as Executive Director of Communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee.[8][9][10][11][12]

In December 2013, Soudas resigned from the Canadian Olympic Committee, and was appointed Executive Director of the Conservative Party of Canada.[13][14]

Soudas is the former Managing Partner of Stampede Group[15] which specializes in food trade into Asian markets and business development. He also served as Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and Corporate Sponsorship for the World Equestrian Games.[16]

Soudas currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Merry Montreal, a not-for-profit organization that organizes a holiday event in Montreal.[17]

Awards
  • Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)[18]
  • Senate of Canada: Canada 150 Commemorative Medal
  • Order of Saint Paul the Aposte - Archon Depoutatos
  • "Lifetime Honorary Board Member" of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (2010)[19]
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References
  1. "Dimitri Soudas, member of Stephen Harper's inner circle, to head Conservative Party". thestar.com. 7 December 2013.
  2. "Harper names Soudas as his main spokesman". 11 April 2010.
  3. "Harper's spokesman Soudas moving on". 1 June 2011.
  4. "Harper names Soudas as his main spokesman". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  5. http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Dimitri Soudas – Bio, News, Photos – Washington Times". www.washingtontimes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  6. "Harper aide Soudas calls it quits". Toronto Star, June 1, 2011.
  7. "Harper finds new communication director in ranks of ethnic media". The Globe and Mail, August 31, 2011.
  8. "Dimitri Soudas fired as Conservative Party executive director". 1 April 2014.
  9. "Former Harper spokesman Soudas joins Canadian Olympic Committee". National Post. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  10. "PM's former communications director Soudas joins Canadian Olympic Committee". www.marketingmag.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  11. "Former Harper spokesman Soudas joins Canadian Olympic Committee". National Post, S.
  12. "Former PMO staffer Soudas joins Canadian Olympic Committee". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  13. "Conservative Party names former PMO spokesperson Dimitri Soudas as new executive director – CTV News". CTVNews.
  14. "Dimitri Soudas and the PM's future – Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 7 December 2013.
  15. "DIMITRI".
  16. http://www.fei.org/fei/fei-weg/2018 World Equestrian Games 2018
  17. "Merry Montreal 2015". Montréal en Fêtes / Merry Montreal 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  18. "Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipients Include Lucien Bouchard, Ben Johnson, Controversial Senators". The Huffington Post. 16 September 2013.
  19. "Offering the ethnic media an outlet 'to reach political leaders'". The Globe and Mail.
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