Wayne Sumarah has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Digital Nova Scotia, the association for the $2.5 billion information technology industry in the province.

The association issued a statement on Thursday announcing that its board of directors had selected Sumarah for the top executive position. He replaces Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, who held the position from 2013 until early this year.

“Mr. Sumarah offers a unique combination of public and private sector leadership experience, and expertise in the tech sector,” said DNS Board Chair Jenn Priske in the statement. “This will help ensure that Digital Nova Scotia continues to be the leading voice of the province’s digital tech industry.”

DNS said Sumarah has extensive experience in the tech sector through leadership roles with ICT companies across Canada. He brings a mix of small business and public-sector experience including operation of a digital marketing agency and various senior leadership roles within government, said the statement.

“It’s an honour to have been selected to lead the outstanding team at Digital Nova Scotia, and to continue to build on the association’s great work and its commitment to help the province’s tech sector grow, evolve and thrive,” Sumarah said.

A native Haligonian, Sumarah’s LinkedIn bio shows that he has been an executive assistant with the government of Nova Scotia for the past nine years. He previously served as the president of a marketing agency, and was the Vice-President of Marketing for Bell Mobility (Atlantic Region)/DownEast Communications from 2004 to 2008.

With more than 160 members, DNS supports Nova Scotia’s tech sector through such means as development programs, capacity building, industry events, and partnerships.

In 2016, the organization established its annual Digital Diversity Awards to acknowledge and applaud female leaders and diversity champions in the province’s ICT sector, while encouraging the province’s next generation of women leaders.

Nominations for the 2020 awards can be found here and will be open until June 26. The awards ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 22.