Dimitri Soudas
Encyclopedia
Dimitri Soudas is the outgoing director of communications
in the Canadian
Prime Minister's Office. In addition to his media responsibilities, Soudas is a key advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
on Quebec issues.
Soudas was born and raised in Montreal
, Quebec
. He moved to Ottawa
in 2002, shortly after Harper became leader of the Canadian Alliance
and Leader of the Official Opposition. He is also the longest-serving communication staff in Harper's entourage. When Harper became Prime Minister after the 2006 federal election
, Soudas joined him in government, initially as press secretary
.
In 2008 an investigation by The Globe and Mail
and CBC News
uncovered allegations that Soudas politically interfered in a pair of political dossiers. Soudas admitted his involvement but has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. On June 4, 2008, Mary Dawson, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner issued a report clearing Soudas from any wrongdoing in the matter.
In 2009 Soudas was forced to apologize for providing incorrect information to Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding statements attributed to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff
. At the G8 on the world stage, Harper was obliged to retract his statements about domestic political matters in the midst of a meeting surrounding the world's current economic crisis.
On March 13, 2010, Soudas's American counterpart Robert Gibbs
wore a Canadian hockey sweater, after Gibbs lost a friendly bet to him regarding the victories of national ice hockey teams of both men and women at the 2010 Winter Olympics
.
He was promoted to director of communications in spring 2010, following the resignation of John Williamson
.
On June 1, Soudas revealed he would be stepping down as Harper's chief spokesman on September 5, 2011 to focus on his family. He will be succeeded by Angelo Persichilli
.
On September 28, 2011, Soudas announced that he will become the Executive Director, Communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee. His role is to provide overall direction, management and a strategic view for all COC communication activities, both internally and externally. He will be the key corporate spokesperson responsible for managing its brand message, playing a key role in driving communications strategies with its stakeholder and partner groups: athletes, National Sports Federation's (NSF's), Organizing Committees, Sport Canada, broadcast partners, and business partners. He will be managing the COC communications team and is the lead communications representative at Olympic Games. Soudas is be based at the Canadian Olympic Committee's office in Toronto and also works from the Montreal and Ottawa offices to ensure that the national scope of his responsibilities will be fulfilled.
Director of Communications
Director of communications is a position in both the private and public sectors. A director of communications is responsible for managing and directing an organization's internal and external communications...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Prime Minister's Office. In addition to his media responsibilities, Soudas is a key advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
on Quebec issues.
Soudas was born and raised in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He moved to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 2002, shortly after Harper became leader of the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
and Leader of the Official Opposition. He is also the longest-serving communication staff in Harper's entourage. When Harper became Prime Minister after the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, Soudas joined him in government, initially as press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
.
In 2008 an investigation by The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
and CBC News
CBC News
CBC News is the department within the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on CBC television, radio and online services...
uncovered allegations that Soudas politically interfered in a pair of political dossiers. Soudas admitted his involvement but has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. On June 4, 2008, Mary Dawson, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner issued a report clearing Soudas from any wrongdoing in the matter.
In 2009 Soudas was forced to apologize for providing incorrect information to Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding statements attributed to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff
Michael Ignatieff
Michael Grant Ignatieff is a Canadian author, academic and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition from 2008 until 2011...
. At the G8 on the world stage, Harper was obliged to retract his statements about domestic political matters in the midst of a meeting surrounding the world's current economic crisis.
On March 13, 2010, Soudas's American counterpart Robert Gibbs
Robert Gibbs
Robert Lane Gibbs was the 28th White House Press Secretary. Gibbs was the communications director for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama and Obama's 2008 presidential campaign...
wore a Canadian hockey sweater, after Gibbs lost a friendly bet to him regarding the victories of national ice hockey teams of both men and women at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
.
He was promoted to director of communications in spring 2010, following the resignation of John Williamson
John Williamson (Canadian politician)
John Williamson is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of New Brunswick Southwest as a member of the Conservative Party.-Education:...
.
On June 1, Soudas revealed he would be stepping down as Harper's chief spokesman on September 5, 2011 to focus on his family. He will be succeeded by Angelo Persichilli
Angelo Persichilli
Angelo Persichilli is an Italian journalist and newspaper editor who emigrated from Italy to Canada in 1975. He was announced in August 2011 as the new director of communications in the Prime Minister's Office....
.
On September 28, 2011, Soudas announced that he will become the Executive Director, Communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee. His role is to provide overall direction, management and a strategic view for all COC communication activities, both internally and externally. He will be the key corporate spokesperson responsible for managing its brand message, playing a key role in driving communications strategies with its stakeholder and partner groups: athletes, National Sports Federation's (NSF's), Organizing Committees, Sport Canada, broadcast partners, and business partners. He will be managing the COC communications team and is the lead communications representative at Olympic Games. Soudas is be based at the Canadian Olympic Committee's office in Toronto and also works from the Montreal and Ottawa offices to ensure that the national scope of his responsibilities will be fulfilled.