The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) announced Tuesday that its executive director and general counsel John Lawford is stepping aside and moving into the role of special counsel at the public advocacy group as he “transitions to the next stage in his career.”
“For over two decades John has been the heart and soul of PIAC and has created a legacy of important consumer protections for Canadians”, Harry Gow, chair of the PIAC board of directors, said in a press release. “On behalf of our Board, we express our sincerest gratitude to John, and we look forward to new directions with Geoff’s leadership.”
Lawford said it has been an “honour and privilege to advance consumer rights and the public interest” at the organization.
Geoff White, formerly the executive director of the indie rep Competitive Network Operators of Canada, will replace Lawford. White, who has held a role as external counsel to PIAC, also had previous roles including as director and regulatory counsel at the Counsel for the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services, and as counsel and senior regulatory analyst at MTS Allstream.
“I am honoured to take on this role, albeit at a very challenging time for consumers, and groups that represent their interests,” White said in the release. “Across the board, Canadians are struggling to access and afford essential services and goods: housing and fair credit, energy, internet service, food, transportation, privacy and healthcare.”
PIAC said it will honour Lawford at its annual dinner at the National Arts Centre on November 28.
Photo of Geoff White, via Canadian ISP Summit
