By rdnewsNOW staff

March 2024

The Mustard Seed welcomes James Gardiner as new CEO

Dec 14, 2023 | 1:52 PM

The Mustard Seed (TMS) has selected James Gardiner to be their next Chief Executive Officer.

After leading The Mustard Seed with faith and vision for the past nine years, officials note Stephen Wile, the current CEO, announced he is retiring in February 2024.

Following a rigorous and equitable search process with many qualified candidates, The organization says Gardiner was selected by the Search Committee as the best fit for The Mustard Seed. The Search Committee was said to be comprised of representatives from TMS’s boards and was managed by the search firm Crawford Connect.

Officials say Gardiner worked in commercial banking for 30 years in progressively senior leadership positions, culminating as a Regional Vice President of Commercial Banking in Southern Alberta and then Head of Business Development for Western Canada for a major Canadian bank.

Gardiner served on TMS’ Foundation Board for two years prior to transitioning to become TMS’s Chief Impact Officer in January 2023. In addition, he has also been filling an interim vacancy as acting Chief Development Officer for the past six months.

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“The Mustard Seed is a special place where our volunteers, donors and government partners come together with our dedicated staff to show helpful compassion to the many lives we touch every day. At The Seed, we say, “Hope grows here.” I am excited and deeply honoured to be offered the opportunity to lead this wonderful Christian organization, bringing hope to our most vulnerable fellow citizens,” says Gardiner.

In his current role as Chief Impact Officer, officials say Gardiner is responsible for overseeing and setting strategic direction for volunteer services, community engagement and employment, community impact centres, spiritual engagement and chaplaincy, and program measurement and strategy.

As interim Chief Development Officer, he is also responsible for the strategy and execution of TMS’s fundraising teams. Reporting directly to the current CEO, officials say Gardiner has had the opportunity to learn about the organization and connect with key stakeholders.

Officials say The Mustard Seed’s vision and mission for the future remains the same, as Gardiner anticipates his new role as CEO of The Mustard Seed on March 1, 2024.

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