REGINA – The SaskTel Board of Directors has appointed Charlene Gavel as president and CEO, effective immediately. Gavel will take over the lead role from Doug Burnett, who announced his retirement in February 2023.
Gavel has been the chief financial officer for SaskTel for nine years, and the SaskTel board is confident she has the in-depth industry, financial, and business knowledge to take on the leadership role, according to a press release. Gavel is well respected within the company and with her extensive experience in developing effective and innovative strategic plans is well positioned to lead the company in a highly competitive communications industry, the release states.
Prior to becoming SaskTel chief financial officer, Gavel was the chief financial officer at SaskTel International and held positions with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region as chief financial officer and vice-president of Financial Services, and at Information Services Corporation (ISC) as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration.
Gavel earned a Bachelor of Administration degree from the University of Regina and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). She has also achieved the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D.) in 2018 and she currently serves on the boards of SaskTel International, the Public Employees Pension Plan (PEPP), the Conexus Arts Centre, and the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.
SaskTel board chair Grant Kook thanked outgoing President and CEO, Doug Burnett, for his leadership during his tenure with SaskTel over the past 30 years.
