Michael Darch, Executive Director, Ottawa Global Marketing
OCRI

Michael Darch is the Executive Director of Ottawa Global Marketing. The Global Marketing group at OCRI is responsible for the attraction of investment, companies and people to the Ottawa region, the branding and marketing of the City of Ottawa, the management of Ottawa’s global partnerships and the support of Ottawa’s technology clusters.

Michael is a strong advocate of focused, cluster-based economic development. He has been the driving force behind the economic partnerships formed between Ottawa and several U.S. cities and is now building Asian, European and Latin American partnerships. He has rebuilt the marketing of Ottawa around its successful technology clusters, skilled workforce, research strength, ability to attract capital and business support infrastructure.

Michael has over 30 years experience in the private sector. He was President of Viva Interactive Learning Inc, a company producing computer-based Health and Safety educational products. Michael was also the President of REDO, an organization to assist the economy of Ottawa to adjust to the federal government downsizing announced in 1995. Prior to that appointment, he was the founder and President of Lansdowne Technologies Inc. for 20 years. Lansdowne provided management services to large technology-intensive projects, primarily in the aerospace and defence sectors.

Michael served as an engineering officer for 11 years in the Canadian Air Force.

Michael is a Senior Research Fellow at the Program of Research on Innovation Management and Economy (PRIME) in the School of Management at the University of Ottawa.

Michael has served as a Director on the Boards of several companies, both public and private.

Michael holds Masters degrees in Business from the University of Ottawa and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada. He is a Professional Engineer, registered in the Province of Ontario.