Startup Zone, the innovation hub in downtown Charlottetown, announced this week that Doug Keefe would become its Interim CEO. The Interim CEO of the Startup Zone is integral to the continued development and management of Prince Edward Island’s business incubator, the groups said in a statement.

Keefe is the founder of Logikl Technology Inc, which has developed Software-as-a-Service for a number of companies that have been acquired. Recently, he has been the Senior Project Manager for Shared Services Canada, where he has overseen the management of a portfolio of projects relating to the implementation of key IT-based initiatives.

Prior to this role, he was the co-founder and CTO for the Charlottetown-based startup, GetGifted Inc. that saw the delivery of more than $2 million in free gifts to more than 20,000 users.

“The Board of the Startup Zone was very pleased to find a candidate like Doug Keefe that is able to help us continue to develop and grow the Startup Zone,” said Board Chair Alex MacBeath in the statement. “We are looking forward to implementing our strategy for our second year of operations.”

“I'm very excited to be joining the Startup Zone and build on its great success to date,” said Keefe. “As we continue to foster the startup ecosystem on PEI, I see the Startup Zone playing an important role in helping bring entrepreneurs from ideas to thriving world-class businesses. I'm honoured to join this team and to further our mission to ignite new businesses on PEI.”

Keefe will begin his term mid-April to cover for CEO Christina MacLeod, who is beginning maternity leave.