The Royal and the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health are pleased to announce Chris Ide as the new Foundation president and vice president for brand and marketing at The Royal. Ide will lead the development and implementation of the Foundation's operational plan and develop strategies that support the pursuit of ambitious fundraising targets.
“We are thrilled to welcome a strategic, collaborative leader with strengths in both fundraising and team building," Jane Duchscher, chair of the Royal Ottawa Foundation’s Board of Directors, said. “Chris brings extensive experience in business planning, managing corporate partnerships and individual philanthropy, with the demonstrated ability to network, cultivate and grow key relationships. These skills will serve the Foundation, the hospital, and our community well as we move forward into a period of growth and innovation.”
Ide brings 15 years of experience in fundraising, strategic partnerships and business development. Most recently, he served as vice president of corporate and community partnerships at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation in Toronto, Ontario. Prior to that, he held leadership positions with Habitat for Humanity and various educational technology companies.
During his tenure at CAMH, Ide developed and executed the largest comprehensive campaign for mental health in Canada’s history and authored the organization’s successful response to COVID-19. He also inspired tens of thousands of business and community leaders from across Canada to join the mental health movement by launching the Workplace Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders and the Sunrise Challenge.
“The appointment of Chris to president of the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health and vice president of brand and marketing at The Royal comes at a pivotal time in our story,” Joanne Bezzubetz, president and chief executive officer of The Royal, said. “We are thrilled to have Chris at the helm of the Foundation and excited to leverage his expertise to help drive our strategy, Co-creating access, hope and new possibilities, forward. Together, we will position The Royal to meet the demands of tomorrow while providing exceptional care and support to our clients, their loved ones and our community today.”
"This is an incredible time to join The Royal,” Ide said. "I look forward to working in partnership with our board, hospital leadership, research institute, foundation team members, and our community of supporters across eastern Ontario to accelerate research today that will transform mental health care for future generations. The world’s best mental health researchers and clinicians work at The Royal. They are the ones who will help solve the global mental health crisis, and I am excited to contribute to their vital work."
Ide will step into this new role on September 7, 2021.