
Marc Gaudrault was named TOP Telecom CEO of the Year at the recent Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto. Marc (centre) is shown with TekSavvy Chief Financial Officer Catherine Playford and Chief Operating Officer Pierre Aube Jr.
TekSavvy Solutions took home two awards at this yearโs Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto โ one that gratified them and the second that surprised them.
For the third year in a row, the firm was named Telecom Employer of Choice in the Corporate Culture & Employer of Choice (CCEOC) competition.
For the first time, company CEO Marc Gaudrault was named Top Telecom CEO.
โThe employer of choice means a lot because of the way itโs handled,โ he said. โRandom employees (excluding management) are interviewed and all non-management employees are allowed to vote.
Weโre not privy to any of it. The votes are added and we came out first.โ
Gaudrault said he wasnโt aware of the CEO honour until his name was called.
โI was surprised because I didnโt even know my name was submitted for it,โ he said.
As one of the largest private employers in Chatham with 450 workers (and another 100 in Gatineau, Quebec) Gaudrault said his firm has a tremendous relationship with the community.
โTekSavvy couldnโt be TekSavvy without the support of the community. โThe response we get from the community, the staff, the interaction we have with different groups; itโs all part of what we do. Itโs a real testament to everyone in Chatham-Kent.โ
He said the company continues its commitment to its more than 250,000 customers and the telecom industry.
โWeโve changed the national landscape,โ he said. โThatโs benefitted not only our customers but Internet users throughout the country.โ
He said the firmโs advocacy of more access and lower prices continue.
โWe say weโre different in a good way and we mean it,โ he said. โWeโre more involved in regulatory issues than ever. We have a whole team that focuses on that. We won a favourable decision last year but the matter took four years to resolve.โ
He said without changes brought in by smaller telecom firms, Canadians would have less choice and access to services.
โIf weโre not there fighting for what we believe is right, thereโs no doubt people would end up getting short-changed. We try to bring some measure of reasonableness to the table.โ
Stuart McFadden, deputy director of economic development for Chatham-Kent, called TekSavvy โan incredible corporate citizen, very much involved in the community.โ
โWhat Marc and his team have done to generate local employment and be there for various community groups is absolutely fabulous. Weโre very grateful to have them here and look forward to helping them in any way possible for years to come.โ
I love Teksavvy ๐ we could not ask for a better CEO ๐
@ Aaron. They don't fire for no reason.
With that many employees there is always going to be some with "sour grapes" but if you can keep the vast majority happy I think you're doing a good job. Chatham is fortunate to have such a dedicated employeer in the community.