GATINEAU – After 27 years at the CRTC in various roles, secretary-general John Traversy has decided he will retire as of December 11, 2015.
He has held the position since former SG Robert Morin retired in 2011. Prior to that he was executive director, telecom for five years. The secretary general is the top operations job at the Commission, overseeing all of the administration. Every complaint, submission and other filing which telecom and broadcasting companies make to the Regulator have Traversy’s name at the top.
“Over the years, I had the opportunity to work on countless files in both the Broadcasting and Telecommunications sectors. We are fortunate that Canadians can often see the tangible results of our work, and it has been a privilege to dedicate so many years to serving their interests,” said Traversy in a note circulated to staff Tuesday.
“I will also remember with great fondness my colleagues, both past and present, at the Commission. Your dedication and collaborative spirit have always been sources of inspiration for me, and I will miss our daily interactions. I am proud of all that we accomplished together.
“I first had the pleasure of working closely with John in the 1990s when he was a member of the Broadcasting sector. Our working relationship was renewed when I returned to the Commission in 2012,” said CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais in his own note to staff Tuesday.
“In these roles, I came to appreciate his dedication and commitment to the Commission. What is remarkable about John is that, regardless of which position he held, he always kept the best interests of Canadians at the centre of his actions and decisions.”
Update: This is the fourth retirement of a senior CRTC official this year as former director general of finance Jim Stefanik, former executive director of communications Amanda Cliff, and former director of media and federal government relations Denis Carmel all retired over the summer.
Update #2: Replacing Traversy as secretary general will be Danielle May-Cuconato (right), who will join the Commission as of November 16, 2015.
May-Cuconato was most recently vice-president of corporate services and the chief financial officer at the Canada School of Public Service. In that role, she oversaw several functions, including innovation, information and technology, financial management and procurement, as well as human resources and workplace management, 
said the announcement circulated to CRTC staff Wednesday afternoon.
Prior to this, she was at the Department of Canadian Heritage from 2007 to 2013, (working with chairman Blais, who was assistant deputy minister of cultural affairs there from 2004-11), where she held several key roles, including director general of the Human Resources and Workplace Management Branch, as well as corporate secretary, chief of staff to the deputy minister and director of portfolio management.
She was also chief of staff to the clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to cabinet from 2002 to 2006.
“Danielle possesses a very strong record of achieving results and brings with her a solid understanding of corporate services, human resources and the mechanics of government,” said Blais in the announcement to staff. “Her broad experience in the public service, including more than 15 years as an executive, will be of key value to the Commission over the coming years.”
